Top 100 Anime Series Of All Time
This list of "Top 100 Anime Series Of All Time" will feature what I consider to be the 100 greatest anime series ever made. Some of the qualifying factors taken into consideration for a series being deemed great are, entertainment value, popularity, lasting appeal, quality of writing, originality and significance to the medium of anime. I didn't take just one factor into consideration. I took many as you can see by my description, this is not a list for most popular anime only.
An anime can only be considered for this list upon being completed, if you want a list of good ongoing anime please go somewhere else. You will need to research some series on anime review sites as IMDb has limited information on anime.
I have watched all of these to completion and can confirm they are certainly worthwhile viewing. As someone who has been watching anime for multiple years and has seen several hundred series I can appreciate when an anime has true legitimate merit.
Never judge whether to watch an anime by its description or picture. You think this would be common sense but you'd be surprised how many great series are overlooked because of the photo or a poor description.
As stated previously, this is a list for series only! Anime that were originally released as multiple episode OVA series will be considered, however no outright anime movies will be included! This is not a list for anime movies!
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND I HAVE PROVIDED A BRIEF REVIEW FOR EACH ANIME ON THE LIST.
An anime can only be considered for this list upon being completed, if you want a list of good ongoing anime please go somewhere else. You will need to research some series on anime review sites as IMDb has limited information on anime.
I have watched all of these to completion and can confirm they are certainly worthwhile viewing. As someone who has been watching anime for multiple years and has seen several hundred series I can appreciate when an anime has true legitimate merit.
Never judge whether to watch an anime by its description or picture. You think this would be common sense but you'd be surprised how many great series are overlooked because of the photo or a poor description.
As stated previously, this is a list for series only! Anime that were originally released as multiple episode OVA series will be considered, however no outright anime movies will be included! This is not a list for anime movies!
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND I HAVE PROVIDED A BRIEF REVIEW FOR EACH ANIME ON THE LIST.
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- StarsKôichi YamaderaUnshô IshizukaMegumi HayashibaraThe futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.Simply the greatest for an outstanding cast of characters, triumphant soundtrack, spectacular action, and it can be watched either dubbed or subbed, both versions are sublime.
Despite initially being episodic in nature underlying storyline rears its head and proves to thoroughly engaging, you've just got to give this anime the opening five episodes, don't make a judgement call after just one episode. See it out and you will be greatly rewarded. - StarsMamoru MiyanoAsami ImaiKana HanazawaAfter discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.One of the greatest all round anime ever. With comedy, romance, tragedy, sci-fi, and even a little action blended perfectly together. It featured an original premise and a satisfying conclusion.
The character of Mad Scientist will become one of your favourites.
Since it involves time travel the first episode is seriously confusing, however by the end of episode three you'll be fully clued in, essential viewing, don't drop it! The best time travel anime ever made. - StarsMayo SuzukazeJunko IwaoNozomu SasakiIn the era of Japan's Meiji Restoration, an assassin regains his humanity.The 4 episode OVA prequel to the original Kenshin anime. This anime involves masterful storytelling, Kenshin the main character is given a rich backstory, the anime plays out always rising, never falters, zero filler, a rich and rewarding experience. The greatest samurai anime ever made.
Despite only being four episodes long it feels very complete and those who want to see more of Kenshin (which you will) can check out the sequel (original anime) series. - CreatorKentaro MiuraStarsMarc DiraisonNobutoshi CannaCarrie KeranenGuts, a wandering mercenary, joins the Band of the Hawk after being defeated in a duel by Griffith, the group's leader and founder. Together, they dominate every battle, but something menacing lurks in the shadows.This series has perhaps the greatest character development of any anime ever made, you become attached to each character who each has well fleshed out personalities comprised of individual qualities, flaws, and ideals. If you hold merit for engaging plot, are exhilarated by action scenes with large doses of violence and don't abhor nudity this is definitely the anime series for you.
It's one of the best anime I've ever seen, the only thing that holds it back as an anime series is one tedious flaw, you'll have to watch it, to find out for yourself. - CreatorRyôgo NaritaStarsMichael C. PizzutoJ. Michael TatumCaitlin GlassA crazy fantasy caper involving alchemists, immortals, gangsters, outlaws and an elixir of immortality, spread over several decades.This anime initially can be confusing because of the huge, overwhelming cast of characters but persevere! It’s a series that’s hard to describe without spoiling it. If you like hardcore action, suspense, and fantasy. You will love it. Issac and Miria are my favourite anime duo ever! However Baccano! does feature some demented characters and plenty of graphic violence. If you like Elfen Lied you will adore Baccano!
P.S. The team that made this later went onto make Durarara!! which was just a modern set, watered down, rehash of Baccano! Basically if you watched Durarara!! and haven't seen this you should look in a mirror and slap yourself :P (This anime requires a minimum trial period of five episodes). - StarsYûto NakanoTravis WillinghamKôjun ItôMushi Master Ginko travels from place to place investigating occurrences that could be tied to supernatural creatures called Mushi.Ask people for the most beautiful anime ever made and the vast majority will reply, Mushi-Shi. It's unique in the fact that the entire anime centers almost entirely on one character. The scenery is beautiful, however this is an episodic anime, if you need an anime that continues on from week to week this may not be for you.
Without spoiling anything about the story I'll just say this is an anime to be savoured, perhaps one episode each night. The most magical, relaxing anime I've ever seen. Simply wonderful. - StarsReiko TajimaTarô ShigakiHisashi KatsutaThe story of Lady Oscar, a female military commander who served during the time of the French Revolution.This is a fascinating telling of Queen Marie Antoinette's rise and fall as ruler of France.
This anime involved murder, suicide, betrayal, cross dressing and even a rape attempt. It was utterly groundbreaking and still is, the cover art is totally unfitting with the mature and serious nature of this anime.
It's a high drama/romance/history anime.... it actually centers on a character called Lady Oscar, I almost dropped it during the early episodes but didn't and I was greatly rewarded, it has one of the best anime endings ever. It does take awhile to really take off and grip you however it's well worth the wait. It's an anime for those interested in a brilliant plot and exceptional character development. - StarsYûsaku YaraRyô HorikawaKatsuji MoriVarious people, especially two rising commanders, cope with a massive continual space conflict between two interstellar nations.This anime takes some 25 of its total 110 episodes to really grasp the viewer, however those with patience are treated to arguably the greatest anime ever made.
I seriously don't want to spoil anything about this masterpiece of an anime, I'll just say this is one if not thee best space opera anime ever made.
Are you tired of stagnant and hollow characters? Are you tired of pointless fanservice? Are you tired of watching anime with no content or appeal for the intellectual viewer? If the answer to these questions is yes, you must watch this anime. You won't be disappointed. - StarsKaori NazukaCrispin FreemanDan GreenA young boy named Shuzo rushes to the defense of a stranger who is being attacked for her magic pendant, only to find himself transported into another world where water is a scarce commodity and he is forced to join an army of children.Wow, just wow. It dropped my jaw the first time I watched it, as a guy I normally like war movies, shows, anime however they usually glamorise war. This anime is the exact opposite, I did really love it but because it had a magnificent, strong anti-war message.
I won't say much as I don't want to spoil anything but this is a very short anime and certainly worthwhile viewing. - CreatorYoshihiro TogashiStarsIssei FutamataMegumi HanCristina ValenzuelaGon Freecss aspires to become a Hunter, an exceptional being capable of greatness. With his friends and his potential, he seeks out his father, who left him when he was younger.I previously had the 90s incarnation of Hunter x Hunter on this list. While both are almost identical in dialogue and scene by scene, I've switched in this newer version as it's what the vast majority of watchers have placed their valuable viewing time towards. While both versions are hugely recommendable, this version is more complete into one bundle. With the original Hunter x Hunter being split over a series and multiple OVA's.
Anyway it's a fantastic anime and one that genuinely can be considered a staple for the genre. - StarsHiroshi TsuchidaAyu MatsuuraAtsuko MineA man adopts his six-year-old aunt and raises her as his own kid.Just an incredibly sweet and touching story of a man trying to raise a young child single-handedly. This anime was such a breath of fresh air to the medium, completely out of the norm and perhaps all the more enjoyable for that fact.
It features a slightly unique art style that a casual anime viewer will not be accustomed to but by the second episode you will have adjusted. It's a very short anime but exceptionally good. - StarsMayo SuzukazeDorothy Elias-FahnRichard CansinoThe adventures of a young wandering swordsman who stumbles upon a struggling martial arts school in Meiji era Japan.Everything that needs to be said about this anime has already been said and is known to pretty much every anime viewer. If you've never seen an anime then Rurouni Kenshin is a good place to start.
It's a quality all rounder, it has action, comedy, romance... there's enough there to keep everybody entertained.
It has a solid story and is well executed, the cast of characters are extremely likable. Perhaps the greatest strength of this series is that it doesn't have any glaring flaws. - CreatorNaoki UrasawaStarsHidenobu KiuchiLiam O'BrienEiji HanawaTenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. The boy, now a charismatic young man, reappears 9 years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders.No question Monster deserves to be on this list. A real question would be, why hasn't Monster placed higher? Perhaps because this truly is a love or hate anime. While I really enjoyed it, I know a lot of people whose opinion I respect that offered well reasoned arguments for not particularly holding fondness for this anime.
I would say this is arguably the greatest thriller anime ever made, it's so tense and suspenseful in scenes. It has a brilliant story, shame that it's a slow burner and that many people drop it before it gets good. Putting some filler eps aside and the fact it takes 20+ episodes to really draw you in, don't drop this! It's definitely a worthwhile watch. - StarsJeran UgokweJack StansburyMasato HagiwaraA young japanese man finds himself in a strange game to recover from his debts.This anime has a refreshingly unique and compelling story. Without spoiling too much it's about a character that gets into debt and has to try and gamble his way out. Maybe I'm not selling it enough but I really can't say a whole lot or I'll ruin the story, it does have a very interesting concept. The worst thing about this anime is the art style, casual viewers may not be able to cope with this. For those who manage with the art there is a great story. Highly recommended to fans of Akagi and One Outs.
- StarsJanyse JaudEllen KennedyShigeru ChibaThe misadventures of a young student and his landlady's romance.Maison Ikkoku is the finest romance anime ever made, in terms of story structure, character development and emotional depth. If you look over this because it's of older animation then you really don't know what an incredible experience you've missed out on. Yes at 96 episodes it is long for the genre. However the story spans several years and this allows for real character and relationship progression.
It is one of the funniest and most charming anime I've ever seen. It managed to turn a big time action and science fiction fan like me into a believer that there is great romance series out there. This remains the finest example of a believable romance story in anime. Do not miss it.
P.S. This anime continually gets better as it progresses, the final 15 episodes of this anime are greater than any other romantic/comedy ever made. It delivers the most spectacular ending that you could possibly want in a rom/com. See this one out, enjoy the ride and I guarantee this will become a firm favourite of yours. - StarsYûto UemuraShin'ya TakahashiMike HaimotoFollowing a tragedy, Thorfinn embarks on a journey with the man responsible for it to take his life in a duel as a true and honorable warrior to pay homage.Vinland Saga was a breath of fresh air with its different setting, decent production values and surprising solidity. It features some good action scenes, steady build up, and adequate world building. Anyone looking for a decent action anime with a Viking theme should give this a go. While complaints can be put forth towards the MC Thorfinn none can for Askeladd who is perhaps the best anime character in the last 10 years.
- CreatorMonkey PunchStarsYasuo YamadaRichard EpcarMichelle RuffThe adventures of the master thief Lupin III and his cohorts as they dive into various escapades, all the while in pursuit by the tenacious Inspector Zenigata.This is one of the most fun, charming and endearing series to ever grace anime. The character of Lupin is one of the most magnificent and memorable in the medium, he's a terrific hero despite the fact he's a thief. Lupin is the source that inspired such characters as Spike from Cowboy Bebop.
Lupin is the epitomy of cool that we all strive for. Good crime anime is hard to come by and this is the best as we watch the remarkable exploits of Lupin and his gang. I must also mention that greats of anime Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata both worked on this series. It's not just a significant series in anime history, it's also incredibly entertaining. - StarsMamoru MiyanoBrad SwaileVincent TongAn intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.I finally settled on where to place this anime, most of you will be wondering why so low? I can't go into elaborate details as I don't want to spoil anything for people who haven't watched this yet.
So what are Death Note's good points? It's often gripping and thrilling. However when most people remember Death Note they tend to judge it on its early stages, ignoring all the flaws throughout. Lets just say after a certain character left this series and was replaced with two mediocre characters, the show went greatly downhill. Well that's my view anyway.
However I can't deny the popularity and success of this series, the first 2/3's in my opinion are by far its best. It's a quality suspense/thriller and in my opinion worthwhile viewing. If you haven't seen it you must be living under a rock, check it out and see what the fuss is about. - StarsMaria KawamuraCrispin FreemanVeronica TaylorThe adventures of a space navy captain who is either an incredibly lucky idiot, or an unorthodox genius in tactics.This anime better known as Irresponsible Captain Tylor is the funniest Sci-Fi anime ever created. Lovable rogue Tylor is nothing short of a hilarious goof who stumbles through life with what must be said, a lot of incredible luck. If you're a fan of sudden girlfriend anime then look no further.
Just watch the first episode of this, I guarantee you will be in stitches and instantly hooked. It's a series that once you start it, you have to finish it. It's 26 episodes of sheer brilliance. - CreatorShirow MasamuneStarsShirô SaitôAtsuko TanakaOsamu SakaThe futuristic adventures of a female cyborg counter intelligence agent and her support team.This series came about due to the success of the 1995 movie Ghost In The Shell. The anime tv series deviates in feel to the original movie, it doesn't quite have the same dark tone, however it's a great watch in its own right.
This anime has exceptional production values, a strong soundtrack but its greatest appeal is its premise. The philosophical questions it raises, ethical debates, realistic action and plausible futuristic setting make this a must see in my opinion.
Certainly not for everyone, an intelligent anime for those who appreciate that sort of show.
P.S. The Wachoswski brothers who created The Matrix movies have largely credited the 1995 Ghost In The Shell movie as their inspiration. - StarsSteve BlumKirk ThorntonJun'ichi SuwabeAbout Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old ex-gangster member and a virgin. He has one ambition that no one ever expected from him. His sole life purpose is to become the greatest high school teacher ever.Certainly not for younger viewers. GTO is simply hilarious, silly comedy. It's aimed at older males but if you're in good form and don't take it too seriously you will wind up having a great time. It's got some great moral lessons and anyone who enjoys ridiculous antics and highly eccentric characters should give this a go, this anime does exactly what it says on the tin... it entertains. ”
- StarsTeruhiko AoiShunsuke ShimaShigeyuki HosoiJoe, a teenage orphan living in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless alcoholic and former boxing trainer. Danpei, seeing Joe's talent for boxing, decides to train him.Ashita no Joe is the perfect example of how when a simple story is told well, it can achieve greatness. On the surface it might not sound that special, a teenage orphan called Joe who is living in the slums, is convinced to take up boxing by an alcoholic ex-boxing coach. It's how it's handled that makes it special, due to the masterful touch of legendary director Osamu Dezaki, Ashita no Joe is a fantastic example of brilliant story telling and memorable characters. It's an older series and the animation might be a burden for a lot of people but it's well worth making an exception for this one and watching both seasons of it through. It's one of those anime that when you finish it, you're left with a feeling of loss, a feeling of devastation that there's no more episodes.
- StarsMakoto FurukawaKaito IshikawaMax MittelmanThe story of Saitama, a hero that does it just for fun & can defeat his enemies with a single punch.One of the most popular anime ever. The disinterested hero who saves the day, for some reason people go nuts for this trait. Our hero like the name suggests is so powerful he defeats every monster with a single punch. While I don't love it as much as most do, it's watchable particularly considering the small number of episodes.
The biggest charm of the series is the unusual premise and comedic elements. The biggest flaw of this series is the second season, production values dropped and the novelty and charm of the first season diminished. Recommended to those looking for an Action/Comedy that does not require a big time investment. - CreatorGorô TaniguchiIchirô ÔkouchiStarsJun FukuyamaTakahiro SakuraiJohnny Yong BoschAfter being given a mysterious power to control others, an outcast prince becomes the masked leader of the rebellion against an all-powerful empire.Code Geass = quality character development, sufficient story progression, adequate animation, some interesting questions surrounding morality and some entertaining action scenes.
CG is often compared to Death Note for its "intellectual intrigue" however I'm not so sure how strong a case can be made for that. Comparisons between Light from DN and Lelouch from CG are justified though. - StarsAi OrikasaToshiko FujitaAya IshizuThe adventures of a young Swiss boy working as a chimney sweeper in Milan.Romeo no Aoi Sora= Another drama anime that many might find themselves sobbing at, a story about a brave boy who sells himself as a chimney sweep to pay for a doctor for his father. It's a slow paced triumph of drama, friendship, heartache, hardships and character. Few anime have heart like this. Recommended to fans of Clannad and Ie Naki Ko.
