The 30 Best Anime Of All Time
What is the best anime of all time? As anime attracts more new fans every day, that's a question viewers both old and new tend to ask. Watching anime was once a niche pastime, but now it's nearly impossible to find someone who hasn't at least watched one title from the medium. It's easy to see why more people love anime as a mainstream hobby nowadays, especially when the best anime of all time tell incredible, compelling stories with gorgeous visuals and fascinating characters.
Many of the top anime of all time are instantly recognizable classics that defined the medium for years while a few newer-generation hits also have pretty high ratings and command a great deal of respect. Best of all, these top anime series cover an impressive variety of cinematic genres and storytelling themes, meaning there's something for everyone in the industry's uppermost echelon.
Updated on February 5, 2025, by Jenny Melzer: Despite there being an abundance of anime that the majority of fans can agree falls under the best-of-all-time umbrella, it's also incredibly subjective. Across multiple genres and story types, anime can be as varied as the fans who love it. That being said, this list has been updated to refine the choices for the best anime of all time, as well as to include streaming links where available.
30 PHOTOS
30
Yu Yu Hakusho May Not Be Isekai, But It's Still Kinda the Best Isekai
Streaming on Crunchyroll
From troublesome delinquent to reincarnated Spirit Detective, Yusuke Urameshi may not be considered an Isekai anime protagonist, but in all honesty, Yu Yu Hakusho is often considered to be one of the best early examples of isekai out there. Despite being little more than a fourteen-year-old troublemaker, Yusuke's life ends while carrying out the selfless act of saving a little boy from being struck by a car. Taking the hit himself, Yusuke's sacrifice is so unexpected that the afterlife doesn't have a place prepared for him just yet. They'll give him another shot at life, however, so long as he agrees to become a Spirit Detective who hunts down demons.
It does sound like pretty much every isekai anime to have come out over the last thirty years, but Yu Yu Hakusho is so much more than that. Watching Yusuke's character growth across 112 episodes sets it apart in ways that make this one of the most compelling anime that fans continue to return to even thirty years after the final episode aired.
29
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Is Perfectly Dark
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Madoka Magica made waves upon its release by tricking viewers into thinking that it was going to be a story of rainbows and cute transformations. Madoka Magica is easily one of the grittiest magical girl anime out there. An alien creature called Kyubey offers young girls any wish of their choice. The price they pay is becoming a magical girl and fighting off Witches for the rest of the time. Much like the show's vibes, everything is not what it seems. Becoming a magical girl is closer to selling one's soul than having fun adventures with a friend
Madoka Magica excels with its well-timed plot reveals and exceptionally written, dynamic characters. The atmosphere is incredible, but more than anything, the series' style is unique and engrossing. The visuals are phenomenal and the fight scenes are glorious. After years of waiting, the new movie Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnact is finally within reach. Fans can only up that it continues the series in the same fashion the previous movie did.
28
Trigun Offers a Stylish Sci-Fi Western Journey
Anime Series
With Trigun Stampede out, younger audiences might have forgotten just how great the original Trigun anime was. Make no mistake though, this late '90s shonen classic is well worth the price of admission. Set against a cool sci-fi western backdrop, viewers can watch Vash the Stampede wander from city to city trying to downplay his skills while getting pulled into adventures against his will.
Unlike most Shonen series, what makes Vash work isn't him aiming to get stronger; he's already the best gunman on the planet. Instead, he desires to keep his morals, to never take a life. At the same time, he wants to save everyone around him, a moral conundrum that becomes more challenging with each passing episode.
27
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Tells the Story of One Family Across Generations
Anime Series
The popularity of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is proof that classics are timeless. Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo part one, Phantom Blood, came out in 1987. Nonetheless, fans took to the series when it launched in 2012, and the series is more popular than ever following the release of part 6, Stone Ocean. Few anime are as stylized as this one — JoJo's delivers a visual masterpiece that sets it apart from tons of anime.
It’s also a battle shonen anime, but it doesn’t quite adhere to all the norms popularized by series like Dragon Ball and the “Big 3” anime. The weird ways characters use their powers to win fights can’t be found anywhere else, because no one else’s mind works quite like Araki’s. At the same time, Araki’s fabulous sense of fashion and ability to make each new setting feel fresh and cool means viewers never have the chance to get bored.
26
Solo Leveling Is Part Isekai, Part Dungeon Crawl, and All Fun
Anime Series
Solo Leveling is a popular new series that has already joined the ranks of the best modern anime, and it can only get better from there. This anime, based on a Korean web novel, explores what happens when fantasy portals leading to monster-filled dungeons open up all over the place. Bullets won't work on those deadly creatures, so it's up to hunters like Jin-woo Sung to explore those dungeons, slay the monsters inside, and then close the portals.
Jin-woo fights hard to support his mother and younger sister, but it's tough since he's a weak E-rank hunter. Then, after a near-death experience in an unusual dungeon, Jin-woo will get a unique opportunity to grind levels and get much stronger, with no upper limit. Jin-woo will build his stats and confidence alike as he takes on new challenges and destroys elite monsters with his newfound skills, much to everyone's astonishment.
25
Gintama Is a Bizarre Action Comedy That Pays Homage to Shonen Classics
Anime Series
Gintama is a hugely popular series that earned its place among the top anime because of its excellent humor, whimsical storytelling, fun characters, and good-natured parodies of classic shonen titles. In Gintama's world, aliens have taken over Japan and outlawed swords, but protagonist Gintoki Sakata still has one as a samurai for hire. Gintoki and his two wacky friends are up for any adventure.
The Gintama anime pays subversive homage to must-watch shonen titles like Dragon Ball Z and the "big three" of Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece. Gintoki has been seen wearing a straw hat just like Luffy's, for example, and he also assumed command of Ichigo Kurosaki's incredible powers from Bleach. Amusingly, when not-Zangetsu offered to train Gintoki further, Gintoki responded with a casual "no," while the original Ichigo Kurosaki would be delighted to train. But Ichigo isn't a lazy goofball like Gintoki.
24
Code Geass Stars the Genius Antihero Lelouche Lamperouge
Anime Series
Sci-fi anime fans adore Code Geass, praising it for being a deceptively high-cerebral mecha anime series that's far more than a Gundam knockoff. Code Geass will thrust sci-fi fans into a chaotic and merciless world of domination, war, rebellion, and betrayal, all with the famous antihero Lelouch Lamperouge at the helm. Code Geass is an iconic anime that sure to stick with all viewers long after the credits roll.
Lelouch is widely considered one of the best modern anime characters thanks to his cool, confident charisma and intellect. He will play all sides of the war to free Japan from the Britannia Empire and keep everyone guessing until the end, even his closest friends and family if that's what it takes. Lelouch stands as a character who can easily fall prey to the darker side of morality - making this anime all the more engaging.
23
My Hero Academia Puts a Shonen Spin On the Superhero Genre
Anime Series
My Hero Academia helped Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen define an entire era of shonen anime, just like the "big three" did in the 2000s. This is the incredible story of protagonist Izuku Midoriya/Deku and his quest to become a great hero even if he was born Quirkless. Deku has now become All Might's heir as the 9th wielder of the One For All Quirk, but it's a serious burden even for the tough and idealistic Deku, and the fight to save the world will cost him more than he's ready to pay.
My Hero Academia is one of the best anime shows of all time, not just because of its action sequences and superhero vibes, but also its commentary on society and good vs evil. In MHA's world, superheroes run society, but it's a fatally flawed system where the heroes' rule paradoxically creates the cruelest villains of all time. This perpetuates the struggle of good vs evil with no end in sight.
22
Demon Slayer Is an Emotionally Resonant Story About Fighting Monsters
Anime Series
Author Koyoharu Gotouge's series Demon Slayer has already become one of the best contemporary shonen, bursting with creativity and great action scenes. However, it took the anime more time to make this franchise a household name. Now, Demon Slayer has become a shonen juggernaut, even if it's surprisingly conventional in many ways. Its animation quality has made it stand out from the rest.
Demon Slayer has a strong emotional core to balance its brutal action sequences and horror elements. Protagonist Tanjiro Kamado doesn't just slay demons to protect his sister. He understands that demons were once people with real hearts, and will even comfort them as they die. That makes this a "monster hunter" anime of a whole different caliber.
21
Jujutsu Kaisen Is a Dark Fantasy Anime of Curses & Sorcerers
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Jujutsu Kaisen has earned its place as part of the famed "dark trio," or three brutal shonen action/horror anime series with roughly similar narrative styles. At a glance, Jujutsu Kaisen looks like a typical shonen anime, but it also has a strong emotional impact and some strong social commentary. Yuji Itadori has quickly risen to the ranks of the best characters ever.
Jujutsu Kaisen's gripping characters, slick combat, and expert blend of horror, drama, and comedy make it one of the best anime series of not just the modern era, but any decade of anime. It's not for everyone, but any anime fan who can stomach its graphic action sequences is in for a great time. That's especially true for Season 2 in the Shibuya Incident arc, which featured incredible fight scenes and many shocking deaths.
20
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Continues the Legendary Tale of Ichigo Kurosaki
Streaming on Hulu
The original Bleach anime was once highly popular but eventually fell behind Naruto and One Piece and was canceled in 2012. Fortunately for dedicated Bleach fans, this legendary Shonen series returned in 2022 with the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime. Now, the Bleach anime has reclaimed its position as one of the best anime shonen anime ever.
This anime condenses everything that made the original so popular, with much better pacing, slick modern visuals, great voice acting, and a brutal and exciting war arc that will decide the Soul Society's fate once and for all. The Thousand-Year Blood War pits the Soul Reapers against their mortal enemies, the Quincy tribe, in an all-out battle over the Soul King's fate. Along the way, fans will be treated to hard-hitting action scenes, stunning revelations, and much more.
19
Vinland Saga Is a Historical Viking Story About Revenge & Redemption
Anime Series
Vinland Saga is a historical action/adventure seinen anime that is about more than swords and war. Vinland Saga deconstructs Medieval war epics, portraying war as a pointless and foolish endeavor that only makes the world worse while perpetuating the cycle of hatred and violence. Vinland Saga offers viewers a grim look at the brutal side of Norse history.
Vinland Saga's antihero, Thorfinn Karlsefni, learns that lesson when he loses his father, Thors, then loses his chance at revenge. Instead, Thorfinn will reinvent himself at his lowest point and decide that his life's goal is to oppose war and create a colony where violence and slavery have no place. With all its bloodshed and bleak moments, Vinland Saga shines as a great, yet gritty anime series.
18
Revolutionary Girl Utena Broke New Ground For Girls In Anime
Not Currently Available On Streaming
Created by the artist collective Be-Papas, Revolutionary Girl Utena is a short shojo manga that was adapted into a 39-episode anime in 1997. While most people are prone to think of Sailor Moon as the best nostalgic anime featuring LGBT characters and inspiring women, Revolutionary Girl Utena deserves a lot of love. The series follows Utena Tenjou, a young orphan girl who wants nothing more than to be a prince.
Drawn to the world of sword duels and combat, Utena's tomboyish personality made her an icon for many young women around the world. Revolutionary Girl Utena confidently stands as one of the best shojo anime series out there, and it continues to be revisited today, presenting powerful themes that aren't often told in anime. It's also portrays absolutely beautiful queer themes.
17
One-Punch Man Is a Deceptively Dark Subversion of Superheroes
Streaming on Hulu
One-Punch Man combines comedy with intense action-packed battles. The series follows Saitama, an average guy who wants to become a hero. It's a pretty standard premise, but Saitama turned himself into one of the most overpowered characters ever after three years of training that also resulted in total hair loss.
Saitama became so powerful that he could defeat all of his enemies with a single punch, earning him the titular nickname "One-Punch Man." Unfortunately, Saitama becomes bored since it's so easy for him to defeat anyone in a battle, meaning the real battles must be fought within his mind as he seeks to make something of himself. At least Saitama might make new friends in the Hero Association, along with some rivals to keep himself busy in his new career as a caped crimefighter.
16
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Is the Wackiest Mecha Anime
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an energetic, bombastic feast with visuals that can compete with even the most well-animated shows of the modern era. Premiering in April 2007, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann quickly rose to prominence for its spectacular directing and thrilling action sequences. The anime explodes with creativity and artistic vision, making it feel way more current than many of its peers that year.
Following Simon and Kamina, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an action mecha series sure to satisfy diehard mecha fans. In this show, humanity was driven underground years ago by the beastmen on the surface, so protagonist Simon and his friend Kamina will fight the powers that be and reach the mythical surface world no matter what. Plenty of powerful enemies await them there as the mecha battles unfold, but it's not just slam-bang action — there are also some intriguing mysteries and dire secrets that keep the plot of Gurren Lagann moving.
15
Naruto Shippuden Raises the Bar for Shonen-Style Action
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Naruto Shippuden is a continuation of the main Naruto series. It takes place after a two-year time skip and follows the titular protagonist's journey after leaving the Hidden Leaf Village to further hone his abilities as a ninja. Across 500 episodes, Naruto Shippuden introduced some of Naruto's best villains, such as more members of the Akatsuki group, and it also makes the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke a focal point.
All the characters are older, and this continuation satisfied fans with the character growth they needed from characters like Hinata and Sakura. The Naruto Shippuden anime also upped the stakes in exciting ways, threatening Naruto Uzumaki's entire world with sinister schemes years in the making. Naruto Shippuden refused to let anime viewers forget how great Naruto's story is.
14
Steins; Gate Is One Man Traveling Time to Fix His Mistakes
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Steins; Gate is the perfect anime for anyone looking for a little mystery and some great intrigue. Steins; Gate stars Rintaro Okabe, a scientist who is always excited for experimentation and exploration. He founded the Future Gadget Laboratory with Shiina and Itaru to create never-before-seen technology. Unfortunately, the best that the trio could come up with was a microwave that turned bananas into mere slime.
However, Rintaro discovers there's more to this seemingly useless microwave than what meets the eye. Users can send messages to the past with it. Rintaro soon discovers that it's somewhat of a time travel device, but he also quickly realizes how much damage he's caused to the universal timeline. Steins; Gate grips viewers from the start and continues to be considered one of the best anime to date.
13
One Piece Is an Endless High-Seas Adventure For Pirate Fans
Streaming on Crunchyroll
With over 1,000 episodes and counting, One Piece is one of the longest anime series. However, its length didn't stop fans from becoming immersed in the story of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. Best of all, One Piece didn't gradually run out of steam or lose itself in the process. Even after all that time, it continued to get stronger and more compelling than ever, an astonishing achievement for any anime series.
Protagonist Monkey. D Luffy is less like a typical pirate and more similar to other Shonen protagonists. Instead of a ruthless schemer, Luffy is a zany 17-year-old who believes that nobody's dreams are impossible to achieve. One day, he wants to become the Pirate King. Luffy leads the Straw Hats, a tough squad of pirates from all walks of life who teamed up to find the titular One Piece.
12
Cowboy Bebop Is a Melancholy & Exciting Space Adventure
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Cowboy Bebop is a 26-episode classic that every anime fan needs to watch at least once. In terms of style, few anime can even come close to what Cowboy Bebop has going on. Starring Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, the series is set in a dystopian future in which humanity has conquered the galaxy. Unfortunately, this means that the rest of the universe is now plagued with the crimes that polluted the Earth.
Spike and Jet hunt down these evildoers to make a living for themselves. Spike is one of anime's best gunslingers, despite his lazy attitude, who struggles to cope with his past trauma. Jet looks after him and their spaceship. The two go on adventures across time and space, catching as many criminals as possible. Aside from being interesting with good characters, Cowboy Bebop is a slick and atmospheric anime to experience.
11
Death Note Is the Ultimate Shonen Crime Thriller
Streaming on Hulu
Death Note stands as one of the top anime of all time not because of its action or meme-able scenes, but because of its complex and thought-provoking explorations of justice, morality, and good vs evil. The anime follows Light Yagami after picking up the titular notebook that allows him to kill people after writing their names inside. He appoints himself as the God of the New World and the arbiter of justice, killing off every criminal possible.
Light quickly lands himself in a tight cat-and-mouse game with L, the world's best detective. Light assumes the alias "Kira" to cover his tracks, but as the series progresses, he grows more and more evil. Death Note is a psychological war between two brilliant minds — one using his wits for good, the other for evil.
10
Hunter X Hunter Wows Anime Fans With Its Nen Combat System
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter is a classic. The relationships and dynamics between characters are incredible, and the story is endlessly entertaining. The series is about Gon Freecss, a young boy who runs away from home to take the Hunter Exams. He hopes that by passing the exams and becoming a Hunter, he'll finally find his long-lost father, Ging.
Along the way, he meets Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio. The quartet become friends as soon as they meet, and they go on many adventures together. From battling it out in Heaven's Arena to fighting the Phantom Trope in Yorknew City, these four see it all. Hunter x Hunter has done a lot for the anime community, so it's no surprise that it's regarded as one of the best.
9
Attack On Titan Is Mecha, Horror, & Political Commentary All at Once
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Attack On Titan is a cultural phenomenon that stands out from other shonen anime. It challenged its audience, garnering equal amounts of admiration and controversy over the years. This is one of the best anime partly because it elegantly blends familiar genres like fantasy, horror, and even mecha anime into a single slick package.
Attack on Titan follows the antihero Eren Yeager, a teenage boy who swore to eradicate every single one of the man-eating Titans and underwent extensive training to achieve this bloody goal. From there, the world continually becomes murkier as more truth about the origin of Titans emerges. At its core, Attack On Titan is a criticism of war and has strong anti-fascist undertones.
8
Neon Genesis Evangelion Is a Masterful Deconstruction of Giant Robots
Streaming on Netflix
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mecha anime directed by Hideaki Anno, and following Shinji Ikari as he becomes the newest member of an elite team of pilots set to defend Earth against mysterious monsters known as Angels. The sci-fi action sequences aren't the only reason NGE has become one of the best anime of all time, however.
Neon Genesis Evangelion has become a classic in the anime fandom, with its slow and methodical style of storytelling that often feels unique in the mecha genre. While its pacing may be offputting to some, it isn't hard to see how for many, Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most widely acclaimed series in the medium. Even when viewers find themselves getting lost in the plot, the atmosphere is seriously great enough to carry the show.
7
Monster Is a Crime Thriller Set In West Germany
Streaming on Netflix
The Monster anime is a well-regarded seinen series adapted from author Naoki Urasawa's hit manga of the same name. Monster is an intense and suspenseful crime thriller set in West Germany in the 1960s, where Dr. Tenma sacrifices one patient's life to save another in a moment of distress. This anime tackles incredible themes of morality and humanity through its philosophically-driven storytelling.
Dr. Tenma let the mayor die, so he could save the young Johan Liebert, a boy who seemingly killed several people in the hospital before fleeing that night. Years later, Dr. Tenma must confront an older Johan Liebert once again, the "monster" whose life he perhaps unwisely saved. Monster is a gripping anime that will keep viewers hooked right from the start.
6
Chainsaw Man Savagely Deconstructs Shonen Norms In Bloody Style
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Chainsaw Man burst onto the anime scene in the fall of 2022 as an instant classic. Based on author Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga of the same name, Chainsaw Man is a gory and bizarre shonen deconstruction, but it still has familiar, relatable themes such as underdogs giving it their all to succeed. It's also one of the best examples of genre subversion in anime, honoring and destroying the existing shonen formula for character design and storytelling.
Chainsaw Man has delighted, shocked, and amused anime fans on many levels, from its deep exploration of the human psyche to its gritty, unpredictable characters and its eye-popping devil-based combat system. The first season made waves, and Chainsaw Man fans can't wait for the upcoming season and movie. Fujimoto has delivered some of the best-written female characters seen in anime, but he doesn't stop there.
5
Berserk's 1997 Anime Still Holds Up Today
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Author Kentaro Miura's original Berserk manga is indeed the definitive experience for this dark fantasy franchise, but fans may still greatly enjoy what the 1997 anime has to offer. Berserk is most known for its gritty, gorey and bleak world full of torment and anguish. This anime covers the best parts of the famed Golden Age arc, when protagonist Guts joined the Band of the Hawk, only to learn what kind of leader Griffith is.
In some ways, the Golden Age arc feels like a complete story, from Guts' birth and tough childhood as a young mercenary to his days with the Band, only to lose it all during the Eclipse. This anime features highly compelling story arcs for Guts, Griffith, and Casca, all with the backdrop of court intrigue and blood-soaked battlefields in a medieval world. Berserk is a classic anime, but it's not only nostalgia that makes it a great watch.
4
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Is a Fantasy Steampunk Adventure
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a classic anime that almost everyone has undoubtedly heard about, anime fan or otherwise. The story is so beautifully character-driven in a way that viewers will feel themselves growing alongside Ed and Al. The anime follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who tried to use alchemy to revive their mother — and failed.
Unfortunately, the experiment went wrong, and Edward lost a limb, while Alphonse almost died, but his soul remained on Earth after being bound to a suit of armor. After that, the brothers go on their journey to find the Philosopher's Stone and soon find themselves in a deadly world of schemes, homunculi, and political intrigue. Along the way, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's cast will learn valuable lessons about human nature, the horrors of war and genocide, and the price of ambition.
3
Dragon Ball Z Is a Must-Watch Shonen Action Staple
Anime Series
Few anime characters have become as iconic as Dragon Ball Z's protagonist, Goku. He's a Saiyan warrior and the planet's strongest fighter, and he leads the Z-fighters on their quest to obtain the Dragon Balls and defend the planet against various enemies. The series is a continuation of Dragon Ball, and it expands upon the series' universe in innovative ways.
After winning the Martial Arts tournament, Goku settled down, married, and had a son. Goku's true origins are revealed after his brother, Raditz, comes to Earth. It turns out that Goku's true mission was to destroy the planet. Since he fell off a huge cliff and landed on his head, he ended up with a case of amnesia.
2
Sailor Moon Continues to Be the Leading Magical Girl Anime
Streaming on Hulu
Back in the 90s, Sailor Moon was popular enough to be enjoyed by kids who didn't even grow up to consider themselves fans of anime. To this day, the Sailor Moon series stands as one of the most impressive and enduring anime. Anime viewers might laugh and joke about the "power of friendship" trope and how love can fix all, but Sailor Moon never feels annoying, overdone, or dramatic for its good. This is all thanks to the extraordinary writing of the characters — especially Usagi Tsukino herself.
Usagi is young, emotional, and looking for love. When her identity as Princess Serenity is revealed, and even a bit before that, Usagi struggles to rise to the occasion. Not because she isn't capable, but because Usagi is a teenage girl with far too much resting on her. Yet, Usagi knows she must protect the people she cares about, so she pushes herself against all odds. It's exactly that that makes Sailor Moon such an incredible watch.
1
Pokémon Has Made Every Person Dream of Being a Trainer
Streaming on Netflix
Shortly after the Pokémon games came out, the anime followed. Ash and Pikachu might not be central figures in the games, but every gamer finds themselves smiling when they stumble across a wild Pikachu. The permanently 10-year-old boy Ash and his feisty Pikachu have been iconic figures across the world and media since the anime began airing. Ash initially struggles to bond with Pikachu, but once he does, they become inseparable.
Ash's journey to become the very best has never failed to entertain and engage anime watchers. Like Sailor Moon, Pokémon is popular enough that even those who have never watched anime can likely recognize the character names. While Pokémon is much more than its anime, there's no denying that the scheming Team Rocket and charming Brock have found a place in many hearts. Pokémon continues to make shows and games, easily making it one of the greatest anime of all time.
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