Let’s face it— rating anime is like choosing treats at a Japanese store: all way hard, many good picks, and sure to start talks. But that’s just part of the joy. With easy streaming these days, it’s the best time to ask: What’s the top anime ever? Here are my best 10—the shows that made the form (and me). Set to argue with me down below?
10. Samurai Champloo
Hip-hop and samurai may seem like a strange combination, but Samurai Champloo makes it work—and exceeds expectations. It’s fashionable, unpredictable, and brimming with personality. The animation is smooth, the battle scenes are fierce, and the soundtrack is fire. This is the type of show that leaves a lasting impact, and it still cools years on.
9. Death Note
Power, justice, and a death book? Count me in. Death Note immerses you in a moral minefield and never eases up. Light and L’s cat-and-mouse game is the stuff of legend, and each episode is like watching a game of chess where the stakes are raised higher than ever. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a dark edge, this one’s a must-watch.
8. My Hero Academia
What if superheroes existed—and were trained in high school? My Hero Academia presents us with a world of quirks, emotion, and high-stakes battle. Izuku Midoriya’s path from powerless fanboy to top hero is full of emotional beats and some seriously epic fights. Love shonen anime? This is a must.
7. Hunter x Hunter
It may seem carefree on the surface, but don’t let it fool you. Hunter x Hunter gets dark and weirdly deep in some places. It’s a show that develops with its characters—and its audience. Gon and Killua’s bond, the revelations of the Chimera Ant arc, the existential themes—there’s a reason people are begging for more and more episodes.
6. Cowboy Bebop
This one’s a legend for a reason. Cowboy Bebop isn’t just anime—it’s art. With its mix of space-western vibes, moody jazz soundtrack, and existential themes, the show hits different. It’s emotional without trying too hard and effortlessly cool. Even if you’ve never watched anime, you’ll find something to love here.
5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
It’s hard to ignore the impact Demon Slayer has had in just a few years. The animation is next-level, the characters are easy to root for, and the emotional punches land hard. Add a haunting soundtrack and epic battles, and you’ve got a show that keeps breaking records—and hearts.
4. One Piece
Over 25 years in, and One Piece still doesn’t feel stale. That’s no small accomplishment. Luffy’s journey to be King of the Pirates is rife with memorable characters, head-spinning world-building, and some of the greatest long-form storytelling in anime. It’s a dedication, to be sure—but one well rewarded time and time again.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
If you’re looking for a perfect mix of action, emotion, and meaningful themes, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood delivers. The Elric brothers’ story is powerful, the world feels fully realized, and the pacing is nearly flawless. It’s one of the few shows where everything ties together perfectly by the end.
2. Naruto: Shippuden
Ninjas, rivalries, heartbreak, and redemption—Naruto: Shippuden is not just a coming-of-age story. It’s a show that got millions of people in love with anime. Watching Naruto become outcast-turned-hero is inspiring, and the sheer volume of indelible moments is difficult to match. If you didn’t attempt a Naruto run through middle school, did you even have a childhood?
1. Attack on Titan
No other show has rocked the anime universe the way Attack on Titan has. What began as a survival tale became a sprawling, intense epic of twists and turns, betrayal, and questionings of philosophy. It’s brutal, bold, and frequently jaw-dropping. Whatever your entry point, be it at the start or coming in late, this is anime at its most ambitious.
And there you have it—ten anime that have tested the times, broken the rules, and had their fans arguing in forums and group chats for years. Did your favorite get picked? If not, don’t worry—half the fun is disagreeing anyway.