Table of Contents
Anime is a prominent animation technique in Japanese cinema. Early anime films were primarily aimed at the Japanese market, and as such, many cultural allusions were specific to Japan.
Much of the genre is intended towards children; however, mature themes and subject matter can be found in anime films.
Almost all of today’s popular anime are based on manga or Japanese comic books. Anime began to gain widespread popularity in the twentieth century, mainly owing to television shows such as Pokémon.
Do you want to know which anime are the finest of all time? Prepare yourself, because this list has everything you NEED! From highlighting the most prominent Japanese anime in the United States to analyzing the genre on the other side of the Atlantic, one thing is sure: anime is sweeping over the world.
Anything is imaginable in this universe. Animes have a charm of their own, with layers of complicated narratives weaved into a combination of action, adventure, part love tale, and all philosophy. Surprisingly, a growing subset of anime fans collects and live by anime quotes. The fanbase continues to expand and shows no signs of slowing down. Our list will most likely increase in the future, but for now, enjoy the 30 finest anime of all time!
Use vote buttons and comment section under each list item to tell us your opinion about these anime!
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1 Erufen rîto
A humanoid test subject known as a Diclonius escapes from a lab someplace, aided by magical abilities. She actually walks through a sea of her own blood. She sinks into it after an unsuccessful attempt to stop her forever with a sniper.
A little later, the two cousins Kouta and Yuka see a nude female standing in the ocean with a strange pair of horns on her head. Without being able to speak anything other than ‘nyu,’ and appearing incredibly lonely and forlorn, the two take her to their home, name her... well, Nyu, and allow her to live with them.
They immediately discover, however, that Nyu is being pursued by some type of group. Will you accompany the cousins with the situation that they face?
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2 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Evangelion takes place fifteen years after a global calamity, namely in the futuristic walled metropolis of Tokyo-3. Shinji is the protagonist, a young teenager recruited by his father Gendo to the shadowy organization Nerv to drive a massive bio-machine mecha dubbed ‘Evangelion’ into battle against monsters known as ‘Angels.’
The series delves into the experiences and emotions of Evangelion pilots and Nerv members as they attempt to stop Angels from triggering additional cataclysms. Throughout the process, they are challenged to comprehend the ultimate causes of events and the motivations for human conduct.
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3 Monster
Plot centers around Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese physician who is residing in Germany. His life is turned upside down as he becomes engaged with Johan Liebert, one of his previous patients who turns out to be a violent serial murderer.
Monster has received positive reviews from critics, with the manga receiving multiple accolades and the anime adaptation being dubbed one of the greatest of the decade.
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4 Steins; Gate
The series is set in 2010 and follows Rintaro Okabe and his pals as they unintentionally discover a form of time travel that allows them to send text messages to the past, therefore affecting the present.
The plot and narrative of Steins; Gate was highly welcomed by critics; however, some criticized the pace in the first half.
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5 Hunter x Hunter
The plot of this anime series revolves around a young kid called Gon Freecss, who finds that his father, who abandoned him when he was young, is a world-renowned Hunter, a licensed professional who specializes in fantasy activities such as identifying rare or undiscovered animal species, treasure hunting, scouting uncharted enclaves, or tracking down lawless persons.
Gon sets out on a mission to become a Hunter and, ultimately, discover his father. Gon meets other Hunters and experiences the otherworldly along the way.
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6 No Game No Life
Due to its highly unique story and concept of a fantasy world where practically everything is regulated by specific laws that must be followed at all times, this amazing anime may be addicting for gamers.
Shiro and Sora, two brothers, are forcefully taken to a new planet ruled by games, where they must establish a lifestyle to live in a world where games are not so cool and innocent.
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7 One Piece
It is pretty difficult to summarise the plot of a series with hundreds of episodes. Still, we can assure you that the central protagonist, Luffy, will teach you a valuable life lesson.
He will educate you that if you resolve to accomplish something, you should give it your all and fight till the end of your life. This message alone elevates this animation.
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8 Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is a clever series that delves at free will. If an individual’s ‘hue,’ when cloudy, can predict whether or not they would become a menace to society.
Detectives may continually read and transfer psychological data to calculate a person’s crime coefficient using a unique weapon known as the Dominator. Dependent on how clouded a person’s hue is, they will either be forced to undergo rehabilitation or killed immediately. Minority Report fans should watch this anime.
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9 Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai
The exploits of a young traveling swordsman who stumbles onto a faltering martial arts school in Meiji-era Japan are the center of this wonderful series.
So, if you like dramatic characters, fantastic sword-fighting action scenes, a touch of history (the plot is set in the 1870s), and some philosophizing on living a life of violence versus peace. In that case, you should absolutely see this little gem.
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10 Akame ga Kill!
According to reviewers, the first few episodes may be uninteresting, but as the storyline progresses, it becomes one of the most riveting combat anime you’ve ever seen.
The plot revolves around Tatsumi, a village kid who sets out on a voyage to the Capital to establish a name for himself and encounters Night Raid, an apparently hazardous organization of assassins. Will you accompany him on his adventure?
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11 Inuyasha
Kagome, a modern Tokyo girl, stumbles over a doorway that carries her to medieval Japan, where she encounters the half-demon Inuyasha. She chooses to assist him in locating a magical gem and defeating the terrible monster Naraku.
With its beautiful blend of romance, humor, action-adventure, fantasy, and horror, Inuyasha has amassed millions of admirers worldwide and is regarded as an anime masterpiece.
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12 One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man features a hero who can finish all of his battles with a single punch, which irritates him. You might be wondering what’s so intriguing about that. Do you want to witness the hero struggle to slay his opponent? Not this time, at least.
Here, you will watch an overpowered hero striving to find a more powerful foe, fighting to rediscover the pleasure and adrenaline of conflicts he previously felt when he was weak. Was his training to become powerful has become worthless in the end? Watch the show to find out the answers.
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13 Trigun
According to reviewers and fans, Trigun blends some of the funniest, most ridiculous, and smart conversations with intense drama and an emotional feeling of what could be considered terror. To give you a better understanding, the protagonist, Vash, is one of the most paradoxical characters in any anime you have ever seen.
He is a gunfighter who despises killing yet somehow does the killing often. He’s nearly impenetrable but yet quite susceptible. He has the capacity to eliminate all life, but he is grieved when an insect dies. He is also the most sought-after guy on the earth, with a $60 billion double price tag on his head!
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14 Samurai Champloo
The plot of this fantastic anime revolves around Jin, a classic and highly competent samurai; Mugen, an inventive and equally talented samurai; and Fuu, a girl who is a teahouse worker.
When Jin and Mugen are apprehended and ready to be beheaded, Fuu spares their lives and demands that they assist her in finding the Samurai Who Smells Like Sunflowers. I know you probably think the premise of this anime is straightforward and silly, but believe us when we say it’s worth a go.
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15 Tokyo Ghoul
Ghouls are frightful monsters who feast on human flesh. After nearly being killed in an attack, Kaneki changes into a half-ghoul, half-human hybrid and is forced to switch to their way of life in order to stay alive.
Is this a decent show? Yes, without question, but we recommend watching the censored version if you find gore upsetting.
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16 Soul Eater
Most fans seemed to appreciate Soul Eater because it offers something fresh in terms of plot, setting, major character identities, and artistic style.
The Shibusen, a school for ‘Weapons and Masters’ in the fictitious town of Death City, Nevada, is central to the plot. To give you a better idea, a weapon in Soul Eater is a human born with the power to shift into a Weapon, not just another weapon, but the one they were born as.
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17 Fullmetal Alchemist
Because of its highly emotional tale, Fullmetal Alchemist became one of the most popular anime in both the United States and Japan.
The plot centers around Edward and Alphonse Elric, who will go to any extent to bring their mother back from the dead, even trying human transformation. If you believe an anime series can not make you tear, try watching this one without crying.
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18 Cowboy Bebop
Can you imagine if a genius could compile every fantastic movie you have ever watched into a single series? This is how many die-hard Cowboy Bebop fans perceive it.
Cowboy Bebop is a space western containing elements of film noir, gothic horror, creature feature, black humor, screwball comedy, spy action, crime, romance, tragedy, action, philosophy, science, spirituality, fatalism, optimism, and more. It caters to a wide range of tastes.
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19 Code Geass
Code Geass is set in an alternate reality after the Holy Britannian Empire conquers Japan with their deadly new robot weapons, the Knightmare Frames, depriving Japan and its population of all rights and liberties and renaming the nation Area 11.
Lelouch is a Britannian prince who abandoned his claim to the throne when his mother was slain and has vowed to kill his father, the emperor and Britannia. It is always intriguing when familial issues collide with a desire for international conquest and dominance, isn’t it?
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20 Fairy Tail
In a world where magic is widely used and sold, a guild of members undertakes various missions in order to earn some money to pay the rent. Lucy, a divine spirit mage, Natsu, a fire dragon slayer, and Happy, a blue-winged cat, are among them. Welcome to Fairy Tail, where magic can get you anything.
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21 Bleach
Kurosaki Ichigo, a high schooler, is unlike any child since he can see ghosts. He gained power upon colliding with a hollow in the woods.
So Kurosaki Ichigo’s training and duties as a Shinigami, Soul Reaper, begin. If you loved The Sixth Sense, you would probably enjoy this series.
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22 Sword Art Online
In the year 2022, gamers all around the world have gathered on opening day for Sword Art Online, a highly anticipated MMORPG that allows players to connect to a realistic virtual reality environment using special helmets known as Nerve Gear.
Kirito is one such gamer who, after spending a significant amount of time as a beta tester, is anxious to go back into battle and soon forms friends with newcomer warrior Klein. What comes next? You will have to watch the series to find out what makes this a great anime!
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23 Naruto Shippūden
Naruto Uzumaki is a boisterous, hyperactive teenage ninja who yearns for praise and respect, as well as the position of Hokage, the village’s acknowledged leader and strongest ninja.
The tale is incredibly stunning, with epic battles intertwined with profound passion and unexpected plot twists that will blow your mind.
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24 Dragon Ball Z
After discovering that he is from another world, a fighter named Goku and his comrades are compelled to protect it against an invasion of extraterrestrial foes.
Dragon Ball Z, maybe the most recognized Asian anime of all time in the West, was and will always be one of the most influential cartoons ever made for many fans.
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25 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, one of the finest anime series for adults, is about two brothers’ pursuit for a philosopher’s stone after an effort to resurrect their deceased mother fails and leaves them severely disfigured. This series is the highest-rated anime and 23rd highest-rated TV show on highly popular rating website, IMDb (Internet Movie Database).
It is a pretty rewarding series that manages to keep you interested throughout its 64-episode length. Furthermore, the brothers’ closeness is heartwarming to witness.
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26 Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan ranked as the finest action anime by Ranker, is a really groundbreaking anime. After his community is destroyed and his mother is murdered, young Eren Jaegar resolves to rid the world of the enormous humanoid Titans that have driven humankind to extinction.
On many levels, this is a genuinely amazing anime: the storyline, the images, the vision, and the mood. On paper, the fundamental notion of mindless giants eating people may sound stupid and even horrific, but witnessing it leaves you with a pretty different impression. It is a critical and commercial success. It has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time.
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27 Dragon Ball
Another classic anime that became a global sensation and earned millions of admirers is Dragon Ball. The plot revolves around the exploits of a young kid named Goku as he seeks for seven dragon balls.
When these balls are connected, they may give the possessor any desire, and the rest is pop culture history.
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28 Pokémon
So, what can we say about the legendary exploits of Ash Ketchum and his companion Pikachu, who journey throughout numerous locations in the hopes of being recognized as Pokémon masters that you don’t already know?
Although Pokémon is not the finest or finest anime ever in terms of aesthetics or plot, it is unquestionably the most renowned and impactful on a worldwide scale.
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29 Future Diary
The protagonist of this series is given a notebook that can foretell the future and is thrown into a battle with eleven others, with the final survivor becoming God. It is one of the most interesting storylines we have ever seen in anime history. Doesn’t it sound great?
Future Diary is a fascinating series without question. Needless to say, sci-fi/anime enthusiasts will like the plot.
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30 Death Note
In Japan, this highly grim series was chosen as the finest anime of all time. One of the things that many die-hard Death Note fans appreciate is that the protagonist is not your usual decent guy or your daily clichéd hero.
One of the reasons you will find this series so captivating is that it goes where few others have ventured to go in terms of a moral topic.
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