Ranking anime is a dangerous business, because every fan has a favorite that should obviously be higher and will tell you so, in detail, with sources. So think of this less as a verdict and more as a map of the series that keep coming up whenever people explain why they fell in love with the medium.
The list balances influence, quality and how welcoming each series is. Long shows are included where they genuinely deliver, and a couple of films sneak in because they belong. Where to watch changes often, so check your streaming services and prepare for disappointment.
Jump to an entry (20 picks)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, try to use alchemy to bring their mother back and pay a terrible price, because in this universe, “just this once” is the most dangerous phrase imaginable. Their quest to restore their bodies drags them into a conspiracy that spans a whole nation.
What makes it special is discipline. Across 64 episodes, almost nothing feels wasted, villains have real motives and the ending pays off nearly everything. It’s the show people recommend to skeptics, and it earns every bit of the hype. Also, it’ll make you cry over a suit of armor.
Attack on Titan
Humanity lives inside giant walls to hide from man-eating Titans, until a breach ruins everyone’s sense of safety and their afternoon. What starts as a survival story slowly becomes something much bigger and a lot more morally tangled.
Its best quality is its willingness to keep upending your assumptions, like a show that enjoys watching you get comfortable. It’s brutal and sometimes controversial, but few series build momentum so well, and the world-building rewards close attention. Do not google anything. Just trust us.
Death Note
A brilliant student discovers a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it and decides to remake the world as a self-appointed god of justice, because a normal hobby would have been too healthy. A detective known as L sets out to stop him, eating an alarming amount of sugar.
The heart of the show is the mental duel between two geniuses. It’s a thriller driven by strategy and psychology, and the first half in particular is nearly impossible to stop watching. Don’t try to out-think it. You’ll just look at your friends with suspicion.
Demon Slayer
After a demon kills his family and turns his sister into one, Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer to find a cure. It’s a simple setup, delivered with wild amounts of polish, like a very sad bedtime story animated by people who haven’t slept in a year.
The animation from Ufotable is breathtaking, especially in the fight scenes, which look like moving paintings that happen to be violent. Beneath the spectacle, the show’s emotional core, Tanjiro’s compassion even toward his enemies, is what gives it staying power. Yes, you will root for the demons sometimes.
One Piece
Monkey D. Luffy sets out to become King of the Pirates, gathering a crew of misfits along the way, including a swordsman who gets lost in a straight hallway. The series has been running for more than two decades, which is longer than some of its viewers have been alive.
Its length is intimidating, but fans swear the payoff is huge. The world is endlessly inventive, and the emotional highs, when a long-running arc finally lands, are some of the biggest in anime. Commit like you would a long-distance relationship, and bring snacks.
Naruto and Naruto Shippuden
An outcast boy who dreams of becoming the village leader, the Hokage, grows up across two series. It’s a story about perseverance, rivalry and wanting very badly to be seen, and it will make you feel feelings in the middle of a battle involving a giant frog.
Some filler episodes slow things down like a long commercial break with a plot. But the main arcs hold up, and for many fans Naruto was their first anime. Its themes of loneliness and belonging still resonate, whether or not you run like him.
My Hero Academia
In a world where most people have superpowers, a boy born without them inherits one from the greatest hero alive. He enrolls in a school that trains heroes, which has surprisingly rigorous gym class.
It blends classic superhero tropes with a charming cast and strong action. It’s a good pick if you like Western superhero stories and want an anime take, with the added bonus that the teachers are way cooler than yours were.
Jujutsu Kaisen
A high school student swallows a cursed object and becomes the host of a powerful curse, entering a hidden world of sorcerers. It’s darker and bloodier than many popular action anime, and it doesn’t bother pretending otherwise.
The fight choreography, courtesy of studio MAPPA, is jaw-dropping, like the animators dared each other. It has a stylish, modern edge that many fans find irresistible. Fair warning: don’t get attached to anyone.
Cowboy Bebop
A crew of bounty hunters drifts through a faded future solar system in the 1998 classic, mostly broke and entirely cool. Every episode is a different flavor, from noir to comedy to western, like a really good jukebox.
Its jazz score by Yoko Kanno is legendary, and the show has a cool, melancholic style few have matched. It’s often recommended as a gateway to anime for viewers who normally avoid it. See you, space cowboy. You’ll be back.
Hunter x Hunter
A boy named Gon sets off to become a Hunter and find his father, which is the kind of mission statement that sounds simple until a man made of tiny bugs gets involved. The show’s rules-based fights, which are won with cleverness as much as power, make it special.
The Chimera Ant arc is considered one of the best stretches in anime. It starts as a lighthearted adventure and grows into something deeper and more philosophical, which is a polite way of saying it will emotionally wreck you.
Dragon Ball Z
Goku and his allies defend the Earth against increasingly powerful villains, mostly by screaming for several episodes until their hair changes color. It defined a particular kind of action, with power-ups, long stare-downs and explosive battles that last longer than some marriages.
It’s slow by modern standards, but its influence on action anime is enormous. It’s a nostalgic favorite for generations of fans, who still can’t hear a loud noise without thinking about power levels.
Steins;Gate
A self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally discovers a way to send messages to the past. What follows is a time-travel thriller that turns surprisingly personal, because messing with time apparently has a way of breaking your heart.
The first half is slow, and fans insist it’s worth the patience. By the final episodes, it becomes a gripping, emotional story, and you’ll find yourself saying “El Psy Kongroo” with no idea why. That’s how it gets you.
One Punch Man
Saitama is a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch, and he’s profoundly bored about it. The show is a parody of superhero tropes and also an action spectacle, like a joke that takes itself seriously just long enough to throw a punch.
The first season’s animation is dazzling, and the comedy is sharp. It’s a good option for viewers who want something fast, funny and somewhat existential, about a man who has everything except a challenge.
Spy x Family
A spy, an assassin and a telepathic girl form a fake family, none of them knowing the others’ secrets, a setup that is also somehow the healthiest family on this list. It’s a comedy with action and surprising warmth.
Its charm lies in the family dynamics, and Anya’s facial expressions have become internet currency. It’s a great pick for anyone who wants something lighthearted, and for anyone who has ever thought about trying to read a room by mind.
Bleach
A teenager gains the powers of a Soul Reaper, a guardian who fights evil spirits, and gets a sword the size of a surfboard to do it. The series is known for its style, its music and its huge cast of people who all look excellent in black.
Its later arcs received a stunning animation upgrade, so even skeptics sometimes find themselves watching in awe. It’s a stylish action series with a loyal fan base and a soundtrack that deserves a very large speaker.
Fruits Basket
A girl who lives in a tent ends up in a house with a family cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac. The 2019 adaptation tells the whole story, so there’s finally a satisfying end.
It’s a story about healing from trauma, with plenty of warmth and humor. It’s one of those shows that sounds silly on paper and then quietly leaves you in tears at 1 a.m. Bring tissues. A whole box. A cat, if you have one.
Haikyu!!
A short boy with big dreams joins a high-school volleyball team, and somehow turns sports into a deeply emotional experience. It’s a sports anime that makes every serve feel like a battle for the fate of the universe.
Its strength is in its characters, who all grow, even the ones who spend half the season losing. You don’t need to know volleyball to be thrilled. You’ll learn the rules by osmosis, and you’ll shout at the screen.
Chainsaw Man
A broke young man merges with a chainsaw devil and becomes a devil hunter, which is exactly as unhinged as it sounds, and then it gets more unhinged. It’s a wild, violent and unpredictable series.
Its style is cinematic, with a darkly funny edge, and it keeps surprising you in the ways that count. It’s not for everyone, but those who like it love it with an intensity that borders on a hobby.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
After defeating the Demon King, an elf mage outlives her companions and sets out to understand what she missed, which is a very polite way of saying she has to process a lot of grief. It’s a quiet, reflective fantasy about time and memory.
It’s beautifully animated and gently paced. It’s a favorite among viewers who like emotional, character-driven stories, and the rare series that makes you feel better about slow living. It’s also, quietly, about calling your friends.
Your Name
Two teenagers swap bodies and develop an unusual connection across distance. Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 film is a visually gorgeous romance with a twist, and the skies in it should be illegal.
It was a worldwide box-office hit and works as a complete experience in under two hours. It’s the perfect starting point for people who prefer movies to series, and a good way to feel things before dinner.