There are numerous animations produced and released all over the world every year. Here, anime, which is the Japanese term originating in Japan and especially means the animations made in Japan.
It is said that the first Japanese animation was made and released in 1917. Speaking of the earliest famous anime in Japan, Astro Boy (a.k.a. Mighty Atom) was released in 1963 as the first series aired on TV. Around hundreds of new anime are aired on TV and distributed to the movie streaming platforms and come to the screens every year, and the number of must-watch titles is going on increasing year by year.
The industry of anime has prospered substantially in Japan partly because the country has other Japanese pop cultures such as manga, video games and light novels. Some popular anime are adaptations of manga, video games, light novels and other media. And, anime has flourished worldwide so rapidly since anyone can access the Japanese animations with English dubs and subtitles.
Here are 10 best anime series of all time including both the classic anime franchises and the brand new shows. This greatest anime list will help beginners to find which anime to start watching with in the world or anime fans to decide the next one to try. Otherwise, check the best anime by freak’s standards.
This anime list focuses on TV anime series which Japanese call “anime”, so anime movies such as Studio Ghibli films or Makoto Shinkai’s animations are excluded. ▽Check these best anime recommendations perfect for you!▽
A new dark-fantasy star Chainsaw Man (チェンソーマン) was just released for anime fans around the globe in 2022. The manga series of Chainsaw Man, written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, started on Weekly Shonen Jump in 2018 and the first part finished in 2020. It re-started with the second part on Shonen Jump+ in 2022. Its first anime series adaptation was made by an acclaimed studio Mappa. The quality of the just-begun anime series is guaranteed based on the good manga story.
Chainsaw Man tells the story of a 16-year-old poor boy Denji, who gets the power to transform into the Chainsaw Devil. As a member of the Public Safety Division, he executes his duty to beat other Devils with his partner Blood Fiend named Power and his Devil hunter supervisor Aki Hayakawa.
Air Dates: From 2022
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action
Recommended for Fans/Freaks
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Bleach is what both anime beginners and experienced fans should watch, broadcasted with 366 episodes from 2004 to 2012. It was made by a studio Pierrot, based on the popular manga series serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump between 2001 and 2016. The new series Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (BLEACH 千年血戦篇) covers the rest of the original story from the manga, starting from October, 2022. The action adventure series with the theme of Samurai follows a high schooler Ichigo Kurosaki, who gets supernatural powers to beat evil spirits called Hollows.
Air Dates: From 2004
Genre: Action, Adventure
Recommended for Beginners
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Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) has been a top manga and anime series since the manga series started its serialization on Weekly Shonen Jump in 2018. The first season of the anime adaptation, produced by the modern Japanese anime studio Mappa, aired with 24 episodes in 2020. Since the end of 2021, the first anime movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (劇場版 呪術廻戦 0) has been welcomed by plenty of fans, based on the volume 0 of the manga series. It has been also decided that the latest second season will hit the air in 2023.
Air Dates: From 2020
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action
Recommended for Fans
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Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。), which is also called just Anohana, is one of the most heartwarming anime in Japan. Its story begins with this plot: Jinta Yadomi, whose nickname is Jintan, plays video games instead of attending high school.
One day in summer, his childhood friend Meiko Homma (Menma) shows up before Jintan as a ghost though she died in an accident years before. The moving anime is brought to an end with just 11 episodes.
Air Dates: 2011
Genre: Drama
Recommended for Fans
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Many anime fans associate the most famous action anime with Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール), which started to be aired in 1984. Dragon Ball is originally made as the Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Akira Toriyama. There are several main parts in the Dragon Ball series, and it is ongoing as the new title Dragon Ball Super (ドラゴンボール超) from 2015. The well-known part is Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールZ) where the story proceeds after the main character Goku is grown up.
Any battle scenes are worth watching, however, it is especially recommended to watch Goku vs Freeza and Goku’s son Gohan vs Cell.
Air Dates: From 1984
Genre: Action, Adventure
Recommended for Beginners
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The mystery and horror anime Dearth Note (デスノート), based on the manga published on the Weekly Shonen Jump from 2003 to 2006, is highly rated by both domestic and international anime fans. It is so popular worldwide partly because the anime is completed with the relatively short story (37 episodes) in addition to the well-elaborated storyline.
The protagonist Light Yagami finds a Death Note which makes people die if their names are written on the note. You can enjoy watching of the high-level game of wits.
Air Dates: 2006-2007
Genre: Mystery
Recommended for Beginners/Fans
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What is the most famous and top-selling ongoing manga and anime is One Piece (ワンピース) without a doubt. The first volume of the manga was published in 1997, and there are now over 100 volumes sold around the world. The anime adaption began two years later after the first manga was released, and over 1,000 episodes have been aired since then. The whole story of One Piece can be divided into about 10 parts, and beginners can enjoy it even if they start anywhere.
It proceeds with the adventures of the main character Monkey D. Luffy and his crews in the pirates world. He sets sail on the sea in search of the ultimate treasure called “One Piece”. There are Devil Fruits in the world of One Piece, which grant a superpower to those who eat one while the fruits unable them to swim. Powerful fight scenes between the Devil Fruits eaters including Luffy are stunning.
Air Dates: From 1999
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Drama
Recommended for Beginners/Fans
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Naruto (ナルト), the greatest anime with the theme of Ninja, was initially released as the Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999 and run until 2014. The anime Naruto series was completed in 2017 after no less than 15 years, consisting of two titles: Naruto (NARUTO -ナルト-) aired in 2002-2007 and Naruto: Shippuden (NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝) aired in 2007-2017.
The setting of Naruto is the fictional world of Shinobi (Ninja), and the ineffective boy Naruto is growing by the help of many friends and masters there. Naruto and other Ninja characters battle with various Ninja techniques using the chakra energy.
Lots of anime’s essentials such as strong bonds with friends and family, betrayal and parting are represented in this anime. Many anime fans may pick out Naruto as the top of anime especially for foreign people, and it deserves it. Nevertheless, Naruto yields the top position to a certain new anime being released.
Air Dates: 2002-2017
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Fans
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The advent of a shockingly quality anime surprised experienced fans all over the world in 2019. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃) is adapted into an anime from the manga by Koyoharu Gotoge, which was serialized on the Weekly Shonen Jump from 2016. The first season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba with 26 episodes was welcomed by both fans of the manga and people who had not read it.
It is set in the Taisho period (1912-1926) in Japan where demons exist with human beings. The main character Tanjiro Kamado finds his family is killed by the attack of demons and only his sister Nezuko is changed into a demon. He decides to become a demon slayer to restore her to a human.
This anime includes every important part for an excellent anime from the main character’s purity and growing to friends with the spirit of brotherhood and respect for any characters. The battle scenes between demon slayers with swords and unique demon characters are intense, which is beautifully drawn. Each character’s past and background including even demons is respectfully depicted in this anime.
It is followed by the sequel story Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版 鬼滅の刃 無限列車編) released in October, 2020. At the same time as the second season of the TV series Entertainment District Arc finished in February in 2022, it was announced that the production of the season 3 Swordsmith Village Arc was decided. This franchise has not completed yet, but it is safe to say that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will grow to represent the best anime in Japan and around the world.
Air Dates: From 2019
Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure, Dark Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Fans
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As one of the best action anime in recent years, Attack on Titan (進撃の巨人) should be listed. It was originally released as a manga in 2009, and the first season of the anime adaption was aired in 2013. In the story, humanity stands on the edge of extinction for being attacked by the titans. The main characters Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman with the other Survey Corps members battle against the titans.
The story of the manga series came to the end in April, 2021. The fourth and final season of the anime series started from the winter of 2020 and will be completed with the final part airing in 2023.
Air Dates: 2013-2022
Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Fans
Watch here
This best anime list covers from the classic series to the ongoing new faces including the latest trends. I did the best to be objective as much as possible to complete the ultimate ranking that helps many fans to understand the lineup of quality works and to find the one to watch next. As the advent of nicer one, this best anime’s position is changing.
*This article was published in March, 2020. It was updated on May, 2023, with my latest selections.
▽This is the list of the best latest anime series of 2023!▽
-Mr. Hokage ♠