Diving into the world of anime, picking the top 20 series isn’t easy. It’s really about personal taste and a bit of nostalgia. We’re not just talking about the all-time favourites here but also about shows that have changed the game for anime. Each show we picked has complex stories, strong characters, and impressive art.
The Top 20 Anime Series of All Time
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is a classic anime known for its cool style and deep stories. It was made by Sunrise and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. The show mixes space Western and noir, exploring themes of freedom and loneliness. It tells the story of a group of bounty hunters on the spaceship Bebop as they deal with tough questions about life and find meaning in a chaotic world.
Yoko Kanno’s jazz music perfectly fits the show’s mood, making the storytelling even better. Cowboy Bebop has had a big impact on pop culture worldwide, and it’s worth watching.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Switching from the jazz vibes of Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion offers a different approach but is just as impactful. Created by Hideaki Anno, this series dives into deep emotional struggles, set in a world where young pilots battle huge creatures known as Angels. Evangelion is a key anime that challenges its viewers with complex themes and fresh storytelling.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena changes how we see gender roles and digs into deep themes using a unique style. Kunihiko Ikuhara created the series, telling the story of Utena Tenjou, a young girl who decides to be a prince after a tough experience when she was little.
Her time at Ohtori Academy is shown with strange visuals and a storytelling style that uses many symbols. It questions the usual ideas of what being feminine or masculine means. The show talks about identity, sexuality, and freedom in ways that stand out, using symbolic images and a mysterious story.
It’s not just another anime; it challenges how we think about power and relationships and has greatly impacted feminist and psychological anime.
FLCL
FLCL burst onto the anime scene with a style all its own. It’s a sci-fi comedy with a twist, made by Gainax and Production I.G. The story centres on Naota Nandaba, a twelve-year-old boy whose everyday life in the suburbs gets turned upside down by Haruko Haruhara’s unexpected arrival.
What happens next is a mix of growing up, silly comedy, and weird scenes, all tied together with deep emotional themes. The show uses a bold animation style and has an awesome soundtrack by The Pillows, which makes it stand out.
It’s more than just fun; it makes you think with its symbols and fast-paced story. This series connects and sticks with you, capturing the strange and confusing feelings of being a teenager.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Why is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood often seen as one of the best anime? It excels because it has a well-crafted story. In diving into the world of anime, picking the top 20 series isn’t easy. It’s really about personal taste and a bit of nostalgia. We’re not just talking about the all-time favourites here but also about shows that have changed the game for anime. Each show we picked has complex stories, strong characters, and impressive art.
-depth characters and thoughtful themes that make you think about right and wrong and the meaning of sacrifice. The show does a great job of turning Hiromu Arakawa’s manga into an anime without losing any of its emotional power. It tells a complete and satisfying story, where every character’s journey adds something important to the main storyline. This mix of great storytelling and deep ideas is why it’s considered a classic in anime.
Attack on Titan
“Attack on Titan” is a riveting anime set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity faces extinction from gigantic humanoid Titans. The action-packed series follows Eren Yeager and his friends, who join the military to combat the Titans after their city is invaded. This dark fantasy explores themes of survival and resistance, capturing the intense struggle to reclaim their world from these overwhelming foes.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica turns the magical girl genre on its head by exploring dark themes and a complex story. Created by Gen Urobuchi and produced by Studio Shaft, this series changes up the usual magical girl story. It examines the mental and life-and-death struggles of its characters. The main character, Madoka Kaname, is a normal middle school girl who’s given the chance to become a magical girl. But she quickly learns about the harsh truths and sacrifices involved.
The show is famous for its unexpected plot twists, deep emotions, and striking visuals. It makes you rethink what you expect from a show and tackles serious topics like destiny, suffering, and the cost of trying to help others. It sets a new bar for storytelling in anime.
Hellsing Ultimate
Hellsing Ultimate is a well-known anime series that explores the gritty world of vampires and those who hunt them. It has ten episodes and is based on a manga by Kouta Hirano.
The story centres around the Hellsing Organization, led by the tough Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, fighting against various supernatural and human enemies. One of the key figures in the series is Alucard, a strong vampire who works for the Hellsing family.
The show is known for its bold action scenes and Alucard’s deep, complex character. It mixes horror, military action, and drama with a dark gothic style, making it a unique and engaging take on vampire stories in horror anime.
Hunter x Hunter
“Hunter x Hunter,” created by Yoshihiro Togashi, stands out because of its deep characters and complex stories, making it one of the best anime series ever. The show mixes excitement and deep psychological themes, catching the interest of both viewers and critics. It’s a perfect example of what makes a shonen anime great. The story has many layers, which make you think as you watch. The world is well-crafted and detailed, making the adventure feel real. Hunter x Hunter remains a top example of how to tell a great story in anime.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy anime that pulls you in with its gripping story and complex characters. It’s based on a manga by Sui Ishida and tells the story of Ken Kaneki, a college student who turns into a half-ghoul after a scary incident.
The show is set in a world where ghouls secretly live among humans. It dives deep into themes like who we are, where we fit in, and the tough choices we make to survive.
Studio Pierrot’s animation brings out the dark mood with detailed and sometimes graphic visuals. What makes Tokyo Ghoul stand out is how it mixes horror with deep psychological insights, making it a key show in anime history.
Devilman Crybaby
‘Devilman Crybaby’ has changed the game in anime with its unique and bold style. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, this series takes a fresh look at Go Nagai’s classic manga and explores themes like human nature and society falling apart.
What makes it stand out is how it tells its stories and its fresh animation style that breaks away from what we usually see in anime. The intense and emotional tale focuses on Akira Fudo and his struggles with his darker side, Devilman.
This mix of horror and deep psychological elements makes the show very special and memorable, leaving a strong impression on anyone who watches it.
Serial Experiments Lain
‘Serial Experiments Lain,’ released in 1998, is a deep and thoughtful study of identity, consciousness, and the role of technology in our lives. The show centres on Lain Iwakura, an ordinary girl experiencing strange events that connect the real world to Wired, a massive digital network. As Lain gets more involved with this mysterious digital world, it becomes harder to tell what’s real and virtual. This messes with her mind and ours, too.
The show is famous for making us think about how technology affects us. It has many fans for its deep thoughts on the human mind and technology’s influence on us all.
My Hero Academia
‘My Hero Academia’ changes the way we look at superheroes. In this world created by Kōhei Horikoshi, almost everyone has a superpower. But Izuku Midoriya is different – he’s got no powers at all. Despite this, he’s determined to become a hero. The story is straightforward but powerful, mixing exciting fights with real human emotions. It talks about what it means to be a hero, the importance of never giving up, and how society’s expectations can weigh on us.
The setting is a high school, U.A. High, where students learn to control their powers. This familiar setting helps us connect with the characters and see their growth. ‘My Hero Academia’ has a clear storyline and vivid characters that keep viewers coming back. It’s easy to see why people all over the world love it.
Baccano
‘Baccano!’ throws you into a wild story filled with alchemy and immortality set in the Prohibition era. The series is known for its unique way of telling a story out of order and its large cast of characters. Each character has their own intense and sometimes dark story. Most of the action happens on a train called The Flying Pussyfoot, and the show mixes horror, comedy, and action really well. It’s great at handling many stories at once and still makes sense. ‘Baccano!’ is more than just an anime; it’s like a complex puzzle that puts itself together with every episode, leaving you both confused and hooked.
Bleach
Bleach changed the shonen genre with its unique blend of sword fighting, spirits, and soul reapers. Tite Kubo created the series which follows Ichigo Kurosaki. He’s a teenager who can see ghosts and gains the powers of a Soul Reaper—a sort of death god who protects the human world from evil spirits and helps guide dead souls.
What separates Bleach from other anime is its detailed world, big cast of characters, and deep moral questions. Each story arc explores themes like duty, friendship, sacrifice and exciting fights that showcase different spiritual powers. These aspects help keep Bleach popular and well-regarded.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’ is well-known for its creative characters and storylines. It’s a key show in the anime world. Each season follows the Joestar family’s supernatural adventures across different generations and places. The show is famous for its unique art and dramatic poses, making it a standout in popular culture. It mixes humour, action, and deep emotion, all centred around themes of destiny and legacy, which keeps viewers hooked.
With story arcs like ‘Stardust Crusaders’ and ‘Diamond is Unbreakable,’ the show brings in great villains and tough moral choices. It’s had a big influence, inspiring other media and making a lasting impact on anime.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Moving away from the supernatural tales of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, ‘Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion transports us into a world where cunning strategy and political schemes are key.
The show, crafted by Sunrise, centres around Lelouch Lamperouge, a prince in exile who acquires the power of ‘Geass’—an ability that lets him command anyone to follow his orders. His fight against the powerful Britannian empire is full of twists and turns, posing tough moral dilemmas. The series excels in developing its characters and exploring complex themes, blending intense robot fights with strategic mind games. Watching Lelouch evolve from a high school student to a leader of a rebellion is heartbreaking and deeply engaging, making this series a standout in the mecha category.
Trigun
‘Trigun’ first appeared in the late 1990s and still grabs attention today. It mixes sci-fi and space Western themes, ranking it among the best anime series. The story centres on Vash the Stampede, a well-known outlaw with a hidden past.
The show skillfully blends action, humour, and big questions about right and wrong and what it means to be redeemed. Its unique look and unforgettable characters keep fans coming back. The plot slowly reveals Vash’s secret history while tackling big ideas about violence and peace.
‘Trigun’ isn’t just fun to watch; it makes you think, setting it apart in anime.
Naruto
‘Naruto’ is a standout anime. Masashi Kishimoto creates it and follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of being the top leader, the Hokage, in his village. He wants to earn everyone’s respect. The show explores themes like loneliness, acceptance, and the impacts of war. Each character adds something to the story, which is full of intense battles, smart ninja tactics, and lots of heart. ‘Naruto’ isn’t just fun to watch; it also shares important lessons about keeping going, the value of friends, and believing in yourself.
Made in Abyss
‘Made in Abyss’ stands out in the adventure and fantasy anime genres. Why? It mixes stunning visuals with a story that tugs at your heartstrings. The show takes us into the deep, mysterious Abyss, a huge pit filled with odd creatures and echoes of a civilisation long gone. Riko, a young and hopeful girl, and her robot friend, Reg, are at the heart of it all. Together, they dive deep to unravel the Abyss’s secrets and to find Riko’s mom. The journey is packed with despair and hope, pulling viewers in with its dark layers and the sharp contrast between the character’s innocence and the tough world around them.
You may also like our list of Best Romantic Anime Movies.
Conclusion
The top 20 anime series cover various genres and styles, showing how anime has evolved over time. These shows are known for their creativity and deep stories and for how well they connect with audiences worldwide. They highlight how anime can cross cultural lines, creating a common way of telling stories that continues to captivate and entertain people everywhere.
Fahmea Shorok is a well-traveled writer who focuses on entertainment journalism. Her work reflects her journeys and showcases her flexible writing style. She explores local art scenes wherever she goes, giving her readers a close look at the entertainment found around the world in theaters, movies, and art galleries.