We'll be bringing you the movies and TV shows that demand to be seen on this list, whether you're unfamiliar with the series or a fan who hasn't had the opportunity to check them out. Did we miss any essential anime viewing experiences? Let us know in the comments section below. Today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 anime everyone needs to watch.
20. A Place Further Than The Universe
Ironically, despite taking place on a voyage that sees four high school students traveling to Antarctica, this show has a universal beauty that will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt anxious about their future. The comedy is as expected. There is no shortage of coming-of-age stories across the anime scene, with some hidden closer to home than others. The girls' conversation is hilarious and adorable. It expertly conveys the jumble of ambiguity that comes with getting ready for adulthood. The stunning Antarctic scenery is silent as well.
19. Erased
When it comes to whodunits, who doesn't enjoy a good mystery? It just so happened that time travel, parental abuse, and a wide range of emotions were included in this breakout anime star. Young Satoru tries to save his friends, who are doomed to be slain by a serial kidnapper, after learning he can return to the body of his younger self. At the same time, the buildup to the killer's identity reveal is masterfully planned. It almost takes a back seat to the developing romance Satoru has with Kyo, a young woman he swears to protect not only from her grisly demise but also from the horrors in her personal life.
18. Higarashi When They Cry
Rena and the crew have created a wide-ranging franchise that is unafraid to incorporate time loops simply to up the ante on the craziness for those who prefer their thrillers to have an extra dash of the bizarre. The inhabitants of a town are slowly beginning to transform into hacky-slashy maniacs due to an ancient kiss, so be ready to see cute girls release their inner monster. It may have a few spin-off pitfalls, but if you understand the show's distinct feeling of terror, you'll be fascinated and anxious to determine when a new violent cycle has started and whether Rika will ever find that elusive happy ending.
17. Kaiji
Kaiji's struggle to escape financial hell will have you rooting for him at every turn, even though he's a fool who should have learned his lesson by now. How he's forced to rely on wits and dumb luck to get through horrifying trials inflicted on him by the sickeningly wealthy never fails to rack up the tension, especially with the consequences carrying a penalty far beyond his control. Kanji's bets are still entertaining to watch.
16. Vinland Saga
A fictionalized account of the English and Danish Wars introduces a revenge-driven Icelandic warrior whose stylish savagery never ceases to amaze. Anime and Vikings are a perfect match, especially for those who enjoy historical epics and are unafraid to delve into the bloody details surrounding their most legendary figures. The individuals in this contemporary masterwork, each floored ferociously and furiously chasing a transient dream, are, however, where the true wealth of this work lies. Missing out on it would be a grave mistake because it's one of the greatest prologues we've ever seen in the medium. That is to say, you would miss Ashland.
15. One Punch Man
With just one joke, it managed to give us one of the best superhero animes to date while often making fun of every superhero stereotype that exists and being powerful enough to defeat any adversary. Even though Saitama is frequently the only thing that can stop the world from being destroyed by the number of super-strong monsters and villains, his existence is still controlled by boredom and contempt with a single strike. Each match's outcome is predictable to you. However, it always strikes the point because of the fine line it walks between outrageous humor and mind-blowing action.
14. Golden Kamui
It might sound like a daring adventure to go on the hunt for the vanished gold of a tribal tribe from the distant past. The leader of the charge is none other than Sugimoto, a former soldier whose desperation to snatch the gold for a just cause pushes him further and further into danger and makes him willing to break anyone in his way. It is just as long as you account for the map being tattooed on the bodies of several convicted killers, the wilderness filled with giant animals, and every corner hiding a new psycho eager to get down and bloody.
13. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
To call it ordinary would be an understatement. There has never been a better time to dive into recording the amazing, action-packed exploits of the Joestar lineage if you've ever wondered what all the commotion was about with regard to Jojo mania. The new kid on the block faces supernatural threats in each episode, which often features a cast with outrageous fashion sense and so many cultural clashes that the entire program has since become its own meme. Please be aware that by the time you reach the diamond, it will be unbreakable. A joke reference will have been made about you.
12. Steins Gate
Perhaps the purest instance of a science fiction thriller to ever grace an anime Giant robots might be replaced by a microwave that can send texts into the past, according to the antics of the self-described mad scientist. The outcome is nevertheless excellent and embraces both the ludicrous and the scientific. You might feel as though you are under water in physics jargon at the same moment. Be assured, first and foremost, that Okabe's timeline switching is a masterwork of drama and personality. It is a true decade-defining story that will persuade you that it is worthwhile to put humanity at risk in order to save Kurisu.
11. Maiden Abyss Enchanting Breathtaking
How could this not be a spectacular, meaningful experience in such a gorgeous setting with such a cute main couple? Hold on to your incinerator, because Rico and Reg's descent into the depths of the abyss is one of the most terrifying and violent fantasies in recent memory. They will only find an increasing number of hazardous monsters and cave raiders waiting for them on the numerous levels of the abyss; there is no story armor here. Prepare yourself for the only thing this series enjoys more than stealing your emotions and destroying them in front of you: how much we still admire it.
10. Fate Zero
Some of us are still finding it difficult to analyze and comprehend the doom verse, a daunting franchise. However, if we were to suggest a starting point, we would choose this introduction. The battles between the seven heroic spirits and their masters are phenomenal, but that doesn't change how broken you'll feel by the end. Not only is it an animated feast for the eyes thanks to Evo Table's unlimited budget, but it will also likely send you into a depression spiral as the ugly side of the holy grail war is put on full display.
9. Code Geass
We cordially encourage you to see the rise and fall of Lelouch vs. Britania if you have a weakness for wonderfully paced sci-fi epics, aren't scared to venture to the dark side, or can't get enough of character-driven storylines buried in tragedy. with the nation split between the enslaved Japanese masses and the cruel aristocratic empire The consequences of Lelouch's actions not only make for some of anime's most impactful moments but also push the limit as to how morally gray a hero can become. A disillusioned noble takes up arms against his family to set things right while operating under the guise of a masked rebel known as Zero.
8. Hunter Hunter
a founder of the cliches that would come to characterize the shonen genre. It's a huge undertaking, and the lack of a sequel never gets any easier to bear, but Go's adventures are just too rich to ignore. Everything this anime sets out to accomplish nails the gold standard for power systems, a vast world with endless story arc potential, and some truly transcendent villains, and at the center of it all, we've got one boy who wants to become a hunter so that he can find his way with dad.
7. Grand Lagan
Not for sentimentality, are you here? We say, why not have both with graphics so trigger-gazing they'll have you seeing stars while you're here for incomprehensibly enormous robots beating the snot out of each other with an entourage of best babes waiting in the wings? Giant drills serving as the end-all and be-all of relationships that hit harder than they should and Kamina, the manliest man to ever dismiss shirts, are just a few of the sci-fi abilities that are layered into Simon the Digger and his fellow human rebels' battles against the beastmen threats.
6. Death Note
If you had the ability to end someone's life with a simple written phrase, what would you do? If you'll light your gum, you'll appoint yourself the ruler of the new world and begin eradicating all the evildoers. This opens the door to challenging inquiries about ideas like justice, righteous violence, and one of anime's greatest mind games. Two brilliant individuals engaged in a mental conflict where losing means death are Kira, a homicidal crusader, and El, a famous investigator from around the world. The power of the pen over the sword makes for a much more interesting spectacle.
5. Mobile Suit Gundam
the father of enormous robots The original Gundam is the way to go if you're in the mood for a true classic whose themes of conflict and ideology still resonate today. Shah continues to be one of anime's greatest anti-heroes decades later, and it's still impossible not to get giddy at the sight of the RX-78 unleashing its beam sabers. The mega action packs just as much of a punch, and the amorous plight and trauma of a civilian thrown into the battle are all too sympathetic.
4. Attack on Titan
The hype began as a dark, fantastical battle between the last of humans and enormous, man-eating creatures known as titans, one of the few occasions when we can firmly affirm that it is true. Since then, this series has developed into something far more profound, radically novel, and violent in its execution. At this point, seeing Aaron and the survey corps gradually find the truth about their universe is nearly a requirement, if only for the splendor of the finale and to see Levi perform.
3. Cowboy Bebop
The Space Cowboy, which is made up mainly of self-contained episodes, is just unbeatable in terms of cool. From taking out errant criminals to outwitting and outshooting the craziest things the galaxy has to offer to facing off against the ghost of his past, Spike Spiegel just does it better than the rest. Plus, the music—how can you pass up the chance to listen to jazz?—is stuffed to the gills with swag.
2. Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
All we can do is urge you to take the plunge because the Elric brothers' quest to reclaim their bodies in the wake of a tragic error will have you enthralled from beginning to end. The characters are exquisitely well realized, the plot is riveting, the action is just the right amount of crazy, and the world-building is unparalleled. Most anime can only dream of achieving this kind of status.
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion
The original Evangelion outing is still fantastic, despite the overuse of symbolism and its inability to come to a conclusion. From the multiple units fighting the angels to its meditation on how weak and foolish humans are, as seen in Shinji's inability to enter the damn robot, everything comes together into this vortex of intense, heartbreaking action while also making you question everything you've seen.