Anime Fans come from all over the world and are devoted to the medium. Anime is renowned for its bold storyline, recognizable visual aesthetic, and likable characters.
Anime market has expanded rapidly in recent years, following the lead of industry titans such as the U.S. music business. Additionally, it’s now easier to access than ever thanks to the growth of streaming services.
Young and elderly, devoted followers have an almost limitless array of options. Thankfully, there’s always fresh anime available to watch. The industry appears to be flourishing, in fact. With a tonne of new seasons, series, and films slated for release, 2023 is looking to be a tremendous year for anime.
But even after years, certain television shows continue to be beloved by viewers. These are the television programs that, in certain circles, are still hotly debated today. Over the years, these well-known animes have garnered both excellent ratings and glowing reviews.
Many have gotten their own live-action reboots, for better or worse. Therefore, these are some of the most well-liked choices from the genre, suitable for both newcomers and die-hard fans.
10. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is set in a sci-fi futuristic world where humanity and all of its vices have spread throughout the galaxy. It centres around a peculiar organisation of bounty hunters.
The neo-noir series centres on the crew of the ship Bebop, captained by the always silly Spike Spiegel and his sidekick Jet Black, who are both burdened by their pasts. Soon, a bioengineered Welsh Corgi, an eccentric wunderkind, and con artist Faye Valentine join them.
With only 26 episodes, this is clearly the shortest-running series here, yet fans have been clamouring for more since its debut over 20 years ago.
Its shortness is primarily owing to acclaimed anime director Shinichir Watanabe’s limited vision for the series, the content of which also discouraged typical toy firms from marketing to it. Netflix’s previous live-action revival was widely panned and quickly canceled.
9. Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime based on a series of light novels written by Reki Kawahard, with the first season airing in 2012 and the most recent season airing in 2020. The plot is set in the present day when people can enjoy immersive gaming through the use of virtual reality.
The problem arises when the author of Sword Art Online (SAO), a medieval fantasy game, traps thousands of players inside the game by deleting the log-out button, leaving them stranded.
The only way for these players to return to the real world is to complete all one hundred increasingly challenging levels of this game. Kirito, the protagonist, and the other characters band together to conquer the obstacles.
Because of its intriguing plot and outstanding animation technique, the anime became quite popular. The show’s action sequences are also excellent.
The show has only had three seasons, and fans are hoping for more because there is another arc in the manga that has yet to be animated. The anime is already extremely popular, and more viewers are likely to join after it is completed.
8. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, which debuted in October 2020, is among the list’s newest shows. The narrative is based on the same-titled manga series by Gege Akutami. With its stunning visuals and gripping action sequences, the first season of the show became an enormous global hit and won over many non-anime fans.
Since then, Jujutsu Kaisen Zero, a prequel film, has also been released; more recently, the second season of the anime has begun to air.
The anime’s main plot revolves around a student named Yuuji Itadori, who becomes a vessel for an ancient creature after swallowing the shrivelled finger of a centuries-old curse known as Sukuna.
Itadori overcomes many different curses with the support of his friends and professors, while everyone battles with their own personal difficulties and the past. The series quickly grew in popularity, becoming one of the most-watched anime of all time.
7. Attack On Titan
A word of caution: this is not a series for the faint of heart. Attack on Titan is a dark fantasy anime that is both stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by huge humanoid Titans and follows a group known as the Survey Corps as they set out to protect themselves from these creatures.
Eren, the main character, joins the group following the horrible death of his mother at the hands of a Titan attack. This anime, adapted from Hajime Isayama’s manga, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Attack on Titan had been running since 2013 before finally ending in 2023.
6. Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, the beloved manga and TV series, has remained popular since its introduction in the early 1990s, and not just among fans of cosplay or the magical girl genre.
The plot revolves around Usagi Tsukino, a young schoolgirl who is endowed with extraordinary abilities courtesy of a talking cat named Luna.
She turns into Sailor Moon, a mystical alter ego entrusted with defeating the evil forces of the Dark Kingdom, led by Queen Beryl, alongside her other moon princesses. Meanwhile, Queen Beryl unleashes Youma creatures that drain human energy. She has her sights set on the Silver Crystal, a diamond with limitless power.
Its initial release in the United States was heavily restricted, with often amusing results. Fortunately, what was planned to be a six-month run grew into nearly seven remakes, the last of which is still in production.
5. Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
Demon Slayer centres on the Demon Slayer Corps, a secret society formed to combat demons. These demons were once humans before being changed by a character named Muzan Kibutsuji.
Following the transformation of the protagonist’s sister Nezuko into a demon, the plot focuses on their adventure to kill the demons alongside Muzan while still attempting to restore Nezuko to her human status.
The plot is set in ancient Japan, specifically in the early 1910s, often known as the Taish era. The animation is inspired by Japanese culture, which explains the unusual clothing and graphics throughout. Its visual style aids in making some of the more unpleasant moments of this anime more bearable.
4. Naruto
Naruto follows the development of a young child who is rejected by society yet grows up to become one of the most successful and powerful ninjas. Naruto Uzumaki, the naughty but hopeful protagonist, is a renowned anime character based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga.
Naruto is a character that is both devoted and optimistic. His energy and never-say-die demeanor inspire young audiences while also teaching them life truths.
Naturally, watching Naruto: Shippuden would be the next logical step after viewing the original Naruto.
By emphasizing compelling narratives and outstanding character development, both sections guarantee that the viewer is thoroughly immersed in the vast world of ninjas. For those who are still in need of more, there are a number of Naruto films available.
3. One Piece
Twenty-four years after the anime’s debut, the first season of One Piece is still airing. This enormous anime is one of the longest-running series ever, with well over a thousand episodes. This anime, which takes its cues from Eichiro Oda’s manga of the same name, is set in a world where mythological creatures and humans coexist.
Because the anime is so lengthy, there are numerous distinct storylines and arcs which are on the protagonist Luffy, and his pirate crew. As the manga is expected to conclude in 2024 or 2025, fans will have plenty of episodes to catch up on if they decide to start reading or watching it.
The fandom for the long-running anime is surprisingly large and devoted. The anime is probably one of the most popular of all time. In fact, the anime is so famous that Netflix created a live-action One Piece show. The show has been well-received by fans and reviewers alike.
If you haven’t begun watching One Piece yet, now is the moment. The reason is that you can watch the live-action series once you finish the animation.
2. Pokemon
Another massive franchise with a devoted following that spans decades is Pokémon. Pokémon, which stands for “Pocket Monsters,” are cute imaginary animals with a variety of abilities and flaws that are difficult not to adore.
It’s almost hard to be unaware of this franchise, even if you’re not a big fan. The popularity of this anime can be inferred from the fact that people are still eager to buy Pikachus and Squirtles and are still dreaming of doing so.
While the video games were successful, the anime series was most likely many people’s first exposure to the property. It helped generate a long-running film series. Fans who have grown up with the show have grown to appreciate the series’ emotional and dramatic tales.
From Digimon to Yu-Gi-Oh!, it has also inspired and been influenced by a host of long-running tabletop game spinoffs. The nearly 25-year-old Ask Ketchum saga has finally been completed with a new Pokémon anime, Pokémon: New Horizon.
1. Dragon Ball Z
A generation of millennials has been shaped by the blockbuster franchise Dragon Ball. Like the majority of anime, Dragon Ball began as a manga series. Akira Toriyama made this one in the early eighties. Dragon Ball was the first installment, released in 1986.
The early Goku was the main emphasis of this animation. 1989 saw the premiere of Dragon Ball Z, the following series. Five years have passed since the conclusion of the previous installment. In this follow-up, a young adult Goku and his kid Gohan were the main subjects.
This show is mostly influenced by martial arts, and there are some very spectacular multi-episode clashes throughout the anime. This anime franchise is full of adventure while remaining accessible to fans of all ages.
The series has inspired memes, and its action has inspired directors working in both animation and live-action. Its popularity may still be found in feature-length films that do well at the box office despite being aimed at a niche demographic. This is without a doubt one of the most popular anime series in the world.
