If you love anime, these are the shows you must watch before you die. It's practically illegal not to! While you’ve probably already seen classic anime series like Naruto, One Piece, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Jujutsu Kaisen, we won’t be considering these on this list. Just in case you haven’t watched these anime yet, make sure to check them out. They’re worth your time!
Filtering out just the 10 best anime to watch out of all the amazing anime out there was extremely difficult. Multiple factors were considered to filter out these anime recommendations such as how unique and engaging the storyline is. In this list, I’ll introduce you to some other amazing anime. I will also be sharing the details like the count of episodes and seasons, and if the anime is a continuation, complete, or on hiatus which would make it easier for you to decide. I won’t go into too much detail, though as I want you to experience the similar roller coaster of emotion that I felt, and Of Course, I don’t want to spoil anything for you! In case, you are confused about how to watch these anime, you can click on the anime heading.
10. The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)
It is about a young man who finds a diary that can tell the future. So he competes with the world as he gets a chance to become the son of God. This anime has only 26 episodes. This anime has a genre of Action, Super Naturality, and Suspense. And you would fall in love with the concept of space-time and alternate universes (something similar to the series Dark). It could be completed in 1-2 days easily if binge-watched.
9. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
This anime has been on my watch list for quite a while and I have started watching it recently and I am loving it. The uniqueness of this anime is the creativity in the narrative, the amazing soundtrack, and the way the characters have been sketched. It stands out from all the other popular anime’s out there and makes all the characters unforgettable. That’s the primary reason this anime is also famous for meme content. Overall It’s an insane combination of great artwork and imaginative storytelling. As of December 2022, the Anime has 194 episodes and is still ongoing.
8. Mob’s Psycho 100:
This anime wrapped up last year. The story is about a character named Mob, a psychic middle school boy who’s incredibly overpowered from the start (kind of like Saitama in One Punch Man). Despite his abilities, he just wants to live a normal life, but he can’t control his power, which constantly gets him into trouble. A colleague recommended this to me, and honestly, I had no expectations at first, but I was proven wrong and pleasantly surprised. It’s a mix of serious and silly writing. The show is a brilliant blend of action, good comedy, a few emotional moments, and some inspiring characters. The series aired from 2016 to 2022, with a total of 37 episodes.
7. Haikyu!!
A sports anime definitely deserves a spot in the top 10, and Haikyu!! is the perfect choice and a must-watch anime. It’s all about volleyball and follows Shoyo Hinata, an enthusiastic high school student who dreams of becoming one of the top volleyball players, despite his short height. Unlike some other sports anime, Haikyu!! doesn’t rely on over-the-top abilities or unrealistic elements. Instead, it focuses on skills, teamwork, and strategy, making it a grounded yet exciting sports series. I’m a sports fan myself, but I didn’t know much about volleyball. After watching Haikyu!!, I became really fascinated with the sport, especially because of certain moments in the story. You’ll find yourself getting hooked on how interesting volleyball can be. With four seasons, you’ll also grow to love not just the protagonist, but the amazing supporting characters as well. The anime aired from 2014-2022 with 4 seasons containing 85 episodes. The creators have decided to conclude the series with 2 movies instead of airing two more seasons.
6. Steins;Gate
This anime is in a completely different league compared to other time-traveling anime like Tokyo Revengers, Re:Zero, Orange, Erased, and Summer Time Rendering. Steins;Gate doesn’t get lost in the scientific jargon of time travel but instead focuses on the psychological and personal toll it takes on the characters, especially Okabe. Steins;Gate stands out from regular time travel stories by blending science fiction with deep emotions. It makes us think about fate, choices, and the effects of changing time. It raises moral questions about how far one should go to change the past, even with the best intentions.
I usually like to watch anime in the background while working on something else, but this one required my full attention. The way Steins;Gate portrays time traveling and time leaping demands complete focus. It’s a 24-episode series that aired in 2011, and you can easily binge-watch it over a few days or a weekend.
5. HunterxHunter
HunterxHunter is by far the top anime series in terms of storyline I have ever watched. Unlike other anime such as One Piece and Naruto, the story is continuous and filler-free which will hook you up from the first few episodes and keep you interested until the show’s end. One of the greatest strengths of the show is the variety of characters, their development along with the progress of the story, and multiple stories in parallel they run during an arc and the way they come together. The show was first aired in 1999 with 92 episodes, and then it was re-aired from the beginning with an improved animation from October 2011 to September 2014 with 148 episodes. The only disappointment is the anime is currently on hold as the Manga is on Hiatus due to the bad health of its writer Yoshihiro Togashi. There has been good news recently and HunterxHunter manga will feature again as a weekly shonen which would increase the probability of the new anime episodes.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the very few anime out there that has a very strong fanbase. The anime was aired from 2009-2010 with only 64 episodes and covered fights, story, backstory, and character development in depth along with all the ingredients required to build a perfect anime. That’s one of the reasons the anime is still one of the top 3 anime on My Anime List. It is not just a goto story about alchemy and adventure but a classic tale of redemption, and sacrifice in the pursuit of truth. The biggest learning from the show was the 7 sins (Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Envy, and Sloth) which I believe humanity has in real. Just to be clear, not to get confused with Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
3. Monster
This is one of the most underrated anime you will find out and one rarely talks about it. You are going to fall in love with the main character and the story will pop your brain out. I thought about starting this anime many times and after completing it, my only regret was not watching it before. The only recommendation is to not drop it in-between and watch it till the end as the story starts with a slow pace. It is more about psychological tension rather than action. The writer Naoki Urasawa is equally focused on the character development of the supporting characters alongside the protagonist. After the ending, you will realize why it was added to this list. The anime was aired from 2004-2005 and has 75 episodes.
2. Bleach
Bleach is one of the most underrated anime out there as it has a lot of fillers (even more than the main-stream episodes). After watching the Soul City Arc, you will realize how amazing the anime is. It is a blend of amazing characters, a variety of villains in each arc, and a vast world. The show gives a strong signal about duty, sacrifice, and the fear of loss. The series was aired from October 2004 to March 2012, consisting of 366 episodes, and was fully canceled due to the deteriorating health of Kubo Tite Sensei whereas its shonen peers One Piece and Naruto carried on. Bleach has returned and resumed to air with Season 1 titled The Blood Warfare aired in December 2022, following up With Season 2 Thousand-Year Blood War in July 2023. Its Season 3 is expected to release in October 2024.
1. Gintama
The anime is best known for its comedy at the level of an American sitcom drama. You can start watching the anime from any episode and you will burst out laughing. Unlike other anime, its humor is at a different level and surpasses all the expectations which can only be realized once watched. The only spoiler I can give is you will receive something different from the expectation you set after watching the first 5 episodes. The show has a unique blend of comedy and an emotional depth The main character is a tremendous comedian and a big fan of anime, and many of the anime references have been mentioned throughout Gintama. The anime also gets very dark after certain episodes. It was aired from 2005 - 2021 and has a total of 375 episodes.
Conclusion:
The above 10 anime are the best anime to watch and have a diversity of genres from thrilling action and psychological tension to deep emotional storytelling and laughter. Whether you're looking for action, emotions, or laughs, these are must-watch anime. In case, you decide to pick one of the anime, my only suggestion is to complete it. And if you have watched all the above anime then Congratulations, You can die peacefully! (Just kidding :)).