The Best Anime Of All Time

Summary

• Our compilation includes well-known Anime & hidden gems spanning various genres, stories, and art styles for all to enjoy.
• Discover Anime masterpieces like One Piece, Gintama, Fullmetal Alchemist, and more that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
• From iconic series like Dragon Ball to emotional rollercoasters like Fruits Basket, find the perfect Anime to watch and immerse yourself in.

There are thousands of Anime out there to watch and enjoy, and some are better than others. Whether you’re a longtime anime enthusiast or a newcomer seeking recommendations, that’s why we created this list.

Our compilation includes some of the most well-known Anime that you may have already heard of or watched, as well as hidden gems waiting to be discovered. This Anime collection spans various genres, stories, and art styles for you to enjoy. We’re confident that you’ll find at least one recommendation here that you’ll watch and thank us for.

Updated on February 25, 2025, by Seth Parmer: It’s been a hot minute since we last touched on this list, meaning this is the first time we’ve updated it this year, allowing us to add some more banger anime that are must-watches spanning many different genres, offering something for everyone to enjoy. There are lots of entries here, so if any of them catch your eye or you haven’t heard of it before, give it a whirl, it may be your new favorite anime!

One Piece

The Neverending Masterpiece

We can’t start a list about the all-time anime greats without including one of the longest and most popular stories ever told, now can we? One Piece is a story about adventure, freedom, romance, and following your heart no matter who it puts you up against or how it makes you look.

This epic, created by Eiichiro Oda, has been running for over 24 years and has over 1000 chapters, and yet the quality of the story is still incredibly high. Just look at the current events going on in the Wano Arc and you can easily see just how amazing the story continues to be, even after all this time. While the long-upcoming live-action adaptation isn’t looking all too great, there’s not a lot more to say about the manga/anime. The story of Monkey D. Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brooke (and maybe Yamato soon) is adored worldwide.

Your Lie In April

Playing Your Heartstrings To A Standing Ovation

Your Lie in April is well-known for its emotionally charged story and emphasis on expertly placed music that will tug on your heartstrings until you are left sobbing uncontrollably, and that’s precisely why we’re including it in this list, as it is one of the best stories in the genre.

Powerful music, wonderful characters, and a plot that draws you in, leaving you fully invested in the outcome. It’s arguably the best romance drama in all of anime, and following Kousei and Kaori’s journey is cathartic and profoundly moving, making it a must-watch!

Gintama

The Iconic Comedy Anime

Hopping right over to another monumentally huge Shonen series, it’s Gintama! Gintama fits into a lot of different genres, including adventure, shonen, comedy, science fiction, and mystery. But, primarily, the focus is on either the action or the gags. As far as the plot goes, it’s about as wacky as they come, set in an alternate version of Edo Japan where aliens came and took over.

But, as far as how plot-heavy Gintama gets, it mostly focuses on Gintama himself and his group of friends. It’s self-referential, fourth-wall-breaking, childish, satirical, and downright hilarious. Truly, Gintama is the perfect series for those looking for a comedy show that never seems to end.

Demon Slayer

The Newest Star Of Shounen

After Demon Slayer’s adaptation started airing in 2019, there was no ignoring it. This show, animated by notable studio Ufotable, was so obviously well-crafted even from the first episode that it was clear this series was going to go places. And go places it did, because whether it’s the manga or the Anime, Demon Slayer is mind-bogglingly popular in both the East and the West. And, with Mugen Train coming to Crunchyroll, its popularity is only going to resurge again before season 2.

And while some aren’t the biggest fans of Demon Slayer’s narrative overall, it can’t be argued that the incredible animation work by Ufotable, the impeccably well-written characters, the simplistic yet immediately gripping storyline, or the concept of fighting demons with elemental sword styles don’t blend well to create the worldwide phenomenon that we see today.

Hajime No Ippo

Formulaic In The Best Way

One of the only series to hold to run longer than One Piece and one of the flagship examples of how incredible sports anime can be, next up is Hajime No Ippo. Following the entire career of Makunouchi Ippo, from a pacifistic kid who was bullied to a name known worldwide, Hajime No Ippo is a top-tier sports series.

And, thanks to three incredible seasons that spanned more than a decade, the anime adaptation is on par with the source material in terms of quality. There’s a lot to watch, and the Anime hasn’t adapted all of it (yet), but if you have even a passing interest in boxing, Hajime No Ippo is a perfect show for you.

Haikyuu!!

Top-Tier Sports Anime

Sticking to the Sports Anime train of thought for a minute, here comes Haikyuu. While Hajime No Ippo is formulaic almost to its detriment, Haikyuu is always mixing it up. Some episodes are entirely focused on a game, others focus on another team’s backstory, and there are even other episodes that barely involve volleyball.

But, no matter what type of episode you get, it’s guaranteed that the quality will be top-notch. Haikyuu has a huge roster of memorable characters, some of the most well-written humor we’ve ever seen, and every episode has at least one or two nail-biter moments. It’s just a fantastic story, with a remarkably high average quality per episode.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

An Eight-Part Wild Ride

Take any other shonen series, replace all the characters with 6’5 unnaturally muscular men, and give them each their own superpowered ghost, and you’ve got JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The source material, written and drawn by Hirohiko Araki, has been going on for decades and is an excellent tale that documents the lives of various people in the Joestar line such as Jonathan, Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke, Giorno, Jolyne, Johnny, and even Jojolion. Every part is unique, distinctive, and engrossing to boot.

What originally started as a story about a stone mask and vampires is now a tale about using your weird ghost power to beat up another ghost power user and looking stylish while doing it. The number of different franchises this series has influenced in its run is immeasurable, and it’s undoubtedly one of the all-time greats. And, for anyone keeping up with the manga series, Part 8: Jojolion just ended, with the next part already confirmed! So, anime-only fans have the Netflix anime for Part 6: Stone Ocean to look forward to, while manga fans have Part 9 not too far off on the horizon.

Oshi no Ko

A Devastating Tale Of The Idol Industry

Despite its flashy and bubbly look, Oshi no Ko will break you if you aren’t prepared, making it one of the best modern dramas out there. While it touches on many heavy topics, it handles them with care and a level of maturity that is not only refreshing but hard-hitting, which is where you breaking down emotionally comes into play.

If dramas with a unique plot are your cup of tea, dive into Oshi no Ko with no knowledge of its plot or base premise, as going in completely unaware of what happens is the best way to experience its tale. Even if the first episode is over an hour long, every second is worth experiencing!

Dragon Ball

Original, DBZ, Super, Or Even GT, It’s All Worth Watching

The story of Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the Z Warriors is one of the most iconic tales ever told in Anime. From Dragon Ball to Dragonball Z, and now Dragonball: Super, one can argue that DBZ almost single-handedly paved the way for Anime in the West!

The endless powerups, endlessly ascending power ceiling, drawn-out battles, and iconic characters have remained fresh in the minds of people for decades now, and the IP doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in the near future either. And, with incredible games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, there’s no reason to slow down anyway!

Just Some Of The Best

Truly, nothing beats Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. I mean, it’s held the #1 spot on MyAnimeList for years now, so that should tell you all you need to know. In case you’re unaware, FMA is the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two genius brothers, and their journey to get back what they lost while also finding new things to live on for.

The Alchemy system in the series is so incredibly deep and properly fleshed out, meaning that the world these brothers live in is just as believable as they are as characters. Brotherhood differs from the 2003 series in a few ways, most obviously the art style, but its dedication to the source material and the stellar animation work overall easily means FMA: Brotherhood has earned a spot on this list.

Meanwhile, The original Fullmetal Alchemist (also animated by Studio Bones) is an excellent series that had to divert from the source material after catching up a bit too quickly. And, while it’s probably the best example of an anime adaptation actually doing a decent job with an original story continuation and ending, it still doesn’t quite match up to Brotherhood in comparison. In either case, if you’re looking for Anime to watch, and you somehow haven’t seen either the 2003 version of Brotherhood, you need to hop on the bandwagon ASAP.

Cowboy Bebop

Nothing More Iconic Than This

It was inevitable that this show would be featured in a list detailing out some of the best Anime around. Cowboy Bebop is more than just a simple anime — it’s a phenomenon that explores various cultural, social, and philosophical themes. Oh, and it also oozes style from every pore. It’s a bit Cyberpunk, a bit space western, and a whole lot of pizazz.

All of these are augmented by a colorful and eclectic cast of characters. Cowboy Bebop is a fantastic watch regardless of if you’re new to the medium or a longtime anime fan who just happened to miss it. And, depending on the quality of the live-action adaptation, there might be a lot of people checking out the original soon for reference or to compare.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Societal Collapse, Dystopia, And Tears… Lots Of Tears

Being an adaptation of a video game always raises some red flags, especially when that video game had severe launch issues that eventually led it to be pulled from the PlayStation Store. But, to everyone’s surprise, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a banger science fiction action anime that says everything it needs to say in only ten episodes.

Would we have liked to see more episodes? Absolutely. But the fact Trigger was able to fit so much into each episode and tell such a compelling and emotionally draining story within that span of time is awe-inspiring. There isn’t a single dull or bad moment in the show, and we strongly urge you to watch it if the genre is up your alley!

Fruits Basket

An Emotional Rollercoaster Worth Boarding

Fruits Basket is an excellent example of a show with a clear-cut vision and delivers on its execution in spades. While many will boil the Anime down to a slice of life, we feel that seems a bit reductive for what the show offers. The characters, voice acting, animation, music, and plot are handled with much love and care, making it near-impossible not to grow attached to the cast.

Fruits Basket isn’t a slice of life but a supernatural drama with heart and soul apparent in every episode. If this Anime gets its hooks in you, you will laugh and sob alongside the characters and root for their success. There’s genuinely nothing quite like the emotional rollercoaster Fruits Basket sends you on, and it’s worth diving into if it sounds up your alley.

Fooly Cooly (FLCL)

The Penultimate Coming Of Age Anime

Fooly Cooly, one of the best coming-of-age stories of all time. It has charm, it has comedy, it has a bit of raunchiness, and it has a ton of mysteries. There’s such an innate charisma that FLCL has and it’s almost impossible to put it into words, which is probably why the “sequel series,” FLCL Progressive, has such a difficult time trying to re-capture it.

The original was such a product of the times and so special to a specific type of person that it’s a bit hard to recommend watching it for the first time in this day and age. But, if you’re a fan of wacky moments, a story about a boy trying to grow up and find himself, or a girl from space beating things up with guitars, then FLCL might be a great watch for you.

Kaguya-sama Love Is War

A Hilarious Game Of Cat And Mouse

There are tons of Anime out there that scratch the romcom itch, but there’s nothing quite like Kaguya-sama: Love is War. The plot centers around the Student Council President, Miyuki Shirogane, and the Student Council Vice President, Kaguya Shinomiya, with both having one goal: Have the other confess their love to them.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is one of, if not the funniest, Anime out there, and delivers many heartwarming moments as well. Every episode delivers, and the payoff of this past season’s finale will make you cheer alongside the cast of wonderful characters. Furthermore, this show is still ongoing, has an upcoming movie, and was strongly hinted to have a fourth season in the works!

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

Surprisingly Sophisticated And Heart Wrenching

The title and cover art of this anime may give some of you cause to pause, but Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is much more than what it seems on the surface, offering a compelling narrative on traumas that is filled to the brim with heart-warming moments and other moments that will leave your heart in several pieces.

This is a surprisingly deep and mature story, with many funny and quirky moments sprinkled in between that make you fall in love with every character you meet, ultimately having you crumble the moment things go south. With supernatural elements to keep you on your toes, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is one of the best romance dramas you could ask for!

Attack On Titan

A Worldwide Phenomenon

Do we really need to say anything about the phenomenon that is Attack On Titan? You likely saw how popular each new episode of the most recent season would be on social media on release night. There are even a few games similar to it, as well as some direct video game adaptations of the story.

That story, of course, being that one following Eren, Mikasa, and Armin. Their tale is so engrossing, both due to the triumphs this trio makes and the horrors they bear witness to. Attack on Titan might have one of the most absurd settings for an anime ever, but it’s somehow become one of the most approachable for new people, and that’s a pretty big achievement. While the ending of the series was pretty polarizing, AoT will still go down as one of the most well-regarded series of all time.

The Fate Series

An Incomprehensible Gigantic IP

Originally spawning from the Fate/Stay Night visual novel series, the Fate media franchise is very popular in this day and age. There are several different anime series, tons of games, a lot of spin-offs, and even some light novels. Most if not all stories in the Fate franchise revolve around the Holy Grail War, the Masters, and the warriors from history they summon.

The big appeal of this franchise is the amazing designs and creative iterations of famous historical icons such as Arthur Pendragon, Medusa, Gilgamesh, and tons more. It’s a fantastic franchise to get into for fans of battle royale settings, violent shonen action, and tournament arcs. Even just considering the fact that Fate/Grand Order (the mobile game) is Sony’s most profitable game ever, it’s obvious that the Fate franchise has a lot to offer for those with money to spend, and for those without.

Code Geass

An Iconic Mecha Influence

Any person who’s seen good anime series knows what Code Geass is all about. Featuring an intriguing plotline where the heir to the throne, Lelouch vi Britannia, obtains the power of Geass — an ability that lets him control the actions of someone just once — the show is a roller coaster that’ll keep you guessing till the very last second. Even for people who aren’t interested in the mecha genre, the plot of Code Geass is so engrossing that you will find yourself binge-watching episodes before you know it.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Get In The Robot Shinji

There aren’t many shows we’d recommend watching purely because of how much they’ll hurt you, but Evangelion is one of them. It’s almost hard to find anyone these days who hasn’t seen the series, especially with the re-release on Netflix, but some of them are still out there. The story of Asuka, Rei, Shinji, and even Misato is one that’s meant to leave you vulnerable and hurt. Neon Genesis Evangelion is satirical in a way, looking at all the other mecha shows that came before it and breaking them down piece-by-piece.

It’s raw, it’s emotional, it’s got the best opening music, and it’s just a great watch overall. Whether it’s the movies (though mileage may vary) or the show, no one brings up anime giants without bringing up Evangelion. That said, with the relatively recent Western release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the story has finally reached its concrete conclusion, and lifelong fans of the IP will be processing this ending for quite some time.