These are the top 10 most compelling anime to watch; for this list, we'll focus on the shows that, once you start, you won't be able to put down. Do you have a favorite anime that appeals to your otaku senses? Please tell us in the comments.
10. Kangan Ashura
There's a reason why tournament-style fighting anime are so popular—they feature bouts after matches of different combat styles that involve strategy and a significant amount of brutality. Kangan Ashura stands out from the competition thanks to its 3D animation, gory fight scenes, and mysterious atmosphere. The Kangan annihilation tournament, a cruel gladiator sport staged by Japan's wealthiest businesspeople, drags Omar and his manager Kazuo into its world as they try to figure out why they were first entered. The violent fight matches will keep you interested.
9. Moriarty the Patriot
Sherlock Holmes and anime frequently coexist; however, his archenemy's stories are much less frequently included. In order to undermine Britain's class system, the series follows a young William James Moriarty as he begins his career as a criminal and assists others in getting away with murder. We also witness his interactions with his brothers, his initial meetings with Holmes, and the beginning of their fabled conflict. The mystery, vengeance, and suspense of the anime will keep you rooting for the most swaggering criminals.
8. Eight Golden Kamui
Historical series might be difficult to market at times, but this tiny gem is unlike any you'll find. It is set in Hokkaido in the early 20th century and follows an intrepid soldier and a young Ainu girl as they hunt a prize that has been tattooed on escaped prisoners. The narrative explores a little-known chapter of Japanese history and offers insight into the Ainu people and their way of life. The tone of the narrative, on the other hand, can dramatically change from fierce action to comedy; it is best described as a sort of Western adventure. Even regular portions of cooking are present. You should chase the golden kamui as thoroughly as you would Sugimoto in search of this buried gem.
7. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Can a program be charisma in show form? The answer is yes, and the show is called Jojo, an anthology of multiple generations of the Joestar lineage. Jojo is typically given an appropriately strange nickname. At the same time, it's very common to see strong people using psychic projections to fight otherworldly threats. Characters will act or say things that you'd never guess in a million years, which produces some great meme fodder in addition to a hearty serving of laughs, tragedies, and extremely colorful animations of boots. The execution is what makes it so compelling. I was just about ready to see everything as one big Jojo reference.
6. Higurashi When They Cry Franchise
Hikarashi may appear to be a slice-of-life anime at first glance because of the charming village and friendly inhabitants, but don't be fooled—it contains some of the most horrifying tragedies ever. If you can stomach the what and the why, then you'll keep coming back for more. This anime relentlessly focuses on the same cast of characters getting involved in various horrifying and brutal events; questions about the town's history and what's going on are constantly raised but remain enticingly out of reach for longer than you'd think.
5. Baki franchise
What results from the combination of muscle, mayhem, and madness? Similar to Baki, this series centers on the titular young guy as he strives to outdo his monstrously strong jerk of a father by growing stronger through battles with various opponents. There may not be any obviously supernatural powers used in the numerous confrontations in this anime. However, they must be realistically rounded, with each character having more muscle than a bodybuilding squad, to the point where it frequently borders on being absurd. Bucky will beat you into submission in some of the craziest showdowns you'll ever witness until you simply accept the crazy.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
There's a reason this anime is at the top of so many lists. Brotherhood is an immense rabbit hole that starts out as a story about two brothers striving to get their bodies back to normal after an unsuccessful alchemy experiment. It doesn't hold back on the emotional gut punches as they unearth a major conspiracy with potentially world-ending consequences and meet dozens of unique personalities whose lives are intertwined with the lyrics. Nevertheless, those who persevere will discover one of the most opulent and magnificent anime the genre has ever produced; it is a show constructed entirely of metal.
3. Hunter Hunter
From the beginning, this may seem like any other adventure series, yet the hunter heads north where the others go left. Hunter is a fine catch that will leave you scrambling for more, and who knows, by the time you finish it, you might come back for more. Everything from characters to fight scenes to entire story arcs will swerve in unexpected directions that will constantly keep you on your toes. Gon's quest to find an absentee father is elevated into a sprawling saga of wild conflicts and top-tier world-building.
2. Code Kiosk
Mecca and high school drama may be present, but this series transcends both of those genres in so many ways. Lelouch Geass follows a vengeful man's quest to reclaim what was taken from him and start a revolution with the aid of some mind-altering ocular abilities. Of course, the setting may catch your attention, but what makes it so addictive is its political intrigue, complex leads, and blistering pace. Very few can hope to reach the heights of zero, but he is the man who makes miracles.
1. Attack on Titan
There is a good reason why this has been a heated topic for almost ten years. This television series took every well-known cliché and turned it into the tale of a troop of youthful warriors battling enormous humanoids in a fantastical dystopia. They honed it to a blood-soaked finish with frequent character deaths, shocking betrayals, and great action, all woven with a narrative that brings so many exquisitely plotted twists that even now, anime fans are left breathless in anticipation of where Aaron and the rest of humanity will end up. The number of casualties, though, will undoubtedly be incalculable.