#1★ 9.4
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Bones · 2009
🎌
Anime Reviews & Rankings
50 essential anime — from 1995 classics to 2024 breakouts. Ratings, studios, genres, synopsis.
🏆 Top 10 Rated
#2★ 9.3
Attack on Titan
Wit Studio / MAPPA · 2013
#3★ 9.3
Spirited Away
Studio Ghibli · 2001
#4★ 9.1
Steins;Gate
White Fox · 2011
#5★ 9.1
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Madhouse · 2011
#6★ 9.1
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Madhouse · 2023
#7★ 9
Death Note
Madhouse · 2006
#8★ 9
One Piece
Toei Animation · 1999
#9★ 9
Your Name
CoMix Wave · 2016
#10★ 9
Clannad: After Story
Kyoto Animation · 2008
Browse by Genre
ShonenShojoSeinenMechaIsekaiSlice of LifeRomanceActionFantasySci-FiSportsPsychologicalComedyDrama
airing
Demon Slayer
★ 8.7Kimetsu no Yaiba
Ufotable · 2019 · 55 eps
ActionFantasyShonen
A kind-hearted boy becomes a demon slayer to save his sister and avenge his family.
One Piece
★ 9Toei Animation · 1999 · 1000+ eps
ActionAdventureShonen
A pirate crew searches for the legendary treasure to make their captain the Pirate King.
My Hero Academia
★ 8.4Bones · 2016 · 138 eps
ActionShonenSci-Fi
In a world of superpowers, a powerless boy trains to become a hero.
Jujutsu Kaisen
★ 8.7MAPPA · 2020 · 47 eps
ActionSupernaturalShonen
A student joins a secret sorcerer society to fight cursed spirits.
Vinland Saga
★ 8.8Wit / MAPPA · 2019 · 48 eps
ActionDramaHistorical
A Viking boy seeks revenge but discovers the cost of war.
One Punch Man
★ 8.5Madhouse · 2015 · 24 eps
ActionComedyParody
A bored superhero defeats every enemy in one punch.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
★ 7.9Kinema Citrus · 2019 · 50 eps
FantasyIsekaiAdventure
A young man is summoned to another world as the Shield Hero.
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
★ 8.3White Fox · 2016 · 50 eps
IsekaiPsychologicalFantasy
A boy with the power to return after death fights to save a world he was summoned to.
Chainsaw Man
★ 8.6MAPPA · 2022 · 12 eps
ActionSupernaturalSeinen
A poor devil hunter merges with his chainsaw dog-devil partner.
Spy x Family
★ 8.6Wit / CloverWorks · 2022 · 37 eps
ActionComedySlice of Life
A spy, an assassin, and a telepath form a fake family for a spy mission.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
★ 9.1Sousou no Frieren
Madhouse · 2023 · 28 eps
FantasyDramaAdventure
An elf mage reflects on the human companions she outlived and starts a new journey.
Bleach
★ 8.2Pierrot · 2004 · 366+ eps
ActionSupernaturalShonen
A teenage Soul Reaper protects humans from evil spirits.
Dr. Stone
★ 8.3TMS · 2019 · 58 eps
Sci-FiAdventureShonen
A science prodigy rebuilds civilization after all of humanity is petrified.
Made in Abyss
★ 8.8Kinema Citrus · 2017 · 25 eps
AdventureFantasyDrama
A girl and robot explore a mysterious pit with otherworldly dangers.
Oshi no Ko
★ 8.6Doga Kobo · 2023 · 22 eps
DramaSupernaturalSeinen
A doctor is reincarnated as the son of his favorite idol.
Blue Lock
★ 8.38bit · 2022 · 24 eps
SportsShonenPsychological
Japan's top 300 high school strikers enter a cutthroat program to create the ultimate egoist.
The Apothecary Diaries
★ 8.8OLM / TOHO · 2023 · 24 eps
MysteryDramaHistorical
A young pharmacist-turned-servant solves court intrigues in ancient China.
completed
Attack on Titan
★ 9.3Shingeki no Kyojin
Wit Studio / MAPPA · 2013 · 89 eps
ActionDramaFantasy
Humanity fights giant humanoid Titans behind three massive walls. Epic, brutal, and thematically dense.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
★ 9.4Bones · 2009 · 64 eps
ActionAdventureFantasy
Two alchemist brothers search for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies. Widely regarded as a perfect anime.
Death Note
★ 9Madhouse · 2006 · 37 eps
PsychologicalThrillerSupernatural
A high-school genius acquires a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.
Naruto: Shippuden
★ 8.7Pierrot · 2007 · 500 eps
ActionAdventureShonen
The continuing ninja journey of Naruto Uzumaki as he trains to become Hokage.
Spirited Away
★ 9.3Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
Studio Ghibli · 2001 · Movie eps
FantasyAdventure
A girl navigates a spirit bathhouse to save her parents. Miyazaki's Oscar-winning masterpiece.
Your Name
★ 9Kimi no Na wa
CoMix Wave · 2016 · Movie eps
RomanceFantasyDrama
Two teenagers begin swapping bodies across time and space. Breathtakingly animated.
Cowboy Bebop
★ 8.9Sunrise · 1998 · 26 eps
Sci-FiActionDrama
Space bounty hunters chase criminals across a lived-in solar system. Legendary jazz soundtrack.
Steins;Gate
★ 9.1White Fox · 2011 · 24 eps
Sci-FiThrillerPsychological
A self-proclaimed mad scientist discovers how to send messages to the past.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
★ 8.5Gainax · 1995 · 26 eps
MechaPsychologicalSci-Fi
Teenage pilots defend Earth against mysterious Angels in giant bio-mechanical suits.
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
★ 9.1Madhouse · 2011 · 148 eps
ActionAdventureShonen
A young boy becomes a Hunter to find his long-lost father.
Violet Evergarden
★ 8.9Kyoto Animation · 2018 · 13 eps
DramaRomanceSlice of Life
A former soldier works as a letter writer, learning what love means.
Mob Psycho 100
★ 8.7Bones · 2016 · 37 eps
ActionComedySupernatural
A psychic middle schooler tries to live a normal life while fighting spirits.
Haikyu!!
★ 8.7Production I.G · 2014 · 85 eps
SportsShonenDrama
A short high-schooler joins the volleyball team determined to reach nationals.
Tokyo Ghoul
★ 7.9Pierrot · 2014 · 48 eps
ActionHorrorPsychological
A college student becomes a half-ghoul after a near-fatal encounter.
Black Clover
★ 8.1Pierrot · 2017 · 170 eps
ActionFantasyShonen
A boy with no magic becomes the strongest mage through pure willpower.
The Promised Neverland
★ 8.2CloverWorks · 2019 · 23 eps
ThrillerMysteryPsychological
Orphans discover the dark truth about their idyllic home.
Gurren Lagann
★ 8.7Gainax · 2007 · 27 eps
MechaActionSci-Fi
Brothers pilot a giant mech to break the surface and fight beastmen.
Code Geass
★ 8.9Sunrise · 2006 · 50 eps
MechaDramaSci-Fi
An exiled prince gains mind control and leads a rebellion against the empire.
Fate/Zero
★ 8.7Ufotable · 2011 · 25 eps
ActionFantasySupernatural
Mages summon heroic spirits to fight for the Holy Grail.
Psycho-Pass
★ 8.3Production I.G · 2012 · 41 eps
Sci-FiPsychologicalThriller
In a future where minds are scanned, an inspector questions the system.
A Silent Voice
★ 8.9Koe no Katachi
Kyoto Animation · 2016 · Movie eps
DramaRomanceSlice of Life
A former bully reaches out to the deaf girl he tormented.
Your Lie in April
★ 8.6A-1 Pictures · 2014 · 22 eps
RomanceDramaMusic
A piano prodigy who cannot hear his own music meets a free-spirited violinist.
Toradora!
★ 8.1J.C.Staff · 2008 · 25 eps
RomanceComedySlice of Life
Two misunderstood classmates team up to help each other confess their crushes.
K-On!
★ 7.9Kyoto Animation · 2009 · 40 eps
Slice of LifeComedyMusic
Four high school girls form a band club and mostly drink tea.
Clannad: After Story
★ 9Kyoto Animation · 2008 · 24 eps
DramaRomanceSlice of Life
A boy and girl navigate adulthood after high school. Emotionally devastating.
Bocchi the Rock!
★ 8.5CloverWorks · 2022 · 12 eps
ComedyMusicSlice of Life
An extremely shy girl joins a rock band and battles her social anxiety.
Mushishi
★ 8.7Artland · 2005 · 46 eps
SupernaturalSlice of LifeFantasy
A traveler studies ethereal creatures called Mushi.
Berserk (1997)
★ 8.7OLM · 1997 · 25 eps
ActionDramaSeinen
A lone mercenary's dark medieval journey. Foundational dark fantasy.
Monster
★ 9Madhouse · 2004 · 74 eps
PsychologicalThrillerMystery
A surgeon hunts a former patient who has become a serial killer.
Ping Pong the Animation
★ 8.7Tatsunoko · 2014 · 11 eps
SportsDramaSeinen
Two childhood friends chase different dreams through table tennis.
Parasyte: The Maxim
★ 8.3Madhouse · 2014 · 24 eps
ActionHorrorSci-Fi
A boy's right hand is infected by an alien parasite and the two must coexist.
Erased
★ 8.5A-1 Pictures · 2016 · 12 eps
MysteryPsychologicalThriller
A man is sent back to childhood to prevent a murder.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
★ 8.5A-1 Pictures · 2011 · 11 eps
DramaSlice of LifeSupernatural
Childhood friends reunite after a ghostly visit from a mutual friend.
How these anime rankings work
Ratings are a weighted average of MyAnimeList member score (50%), Anime-Planet rating (25%), and IMDb (25%), with a longevity adjustment — shows that finished airing and retained their audience over 3+ years receive a slight boost, while shows with front-loaded hype that faded quickly are adjusted down. This is why Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood consistently leads: it opened strong and has never stopped being recommended to newcomers.
The list spans 1995 (Neon Genesis Evangelion) to 2024 (Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon), intentionally mixing genres. Not every entry is action-heavy: March Comes In Like a Lionis a slow-burn depression narrative, Mushishi is meditative folklore anthology. The 50 shows here cover every mood and pace.
Watching tip: Crunchyroll carries the widest simulcast catalog. Netflix has exclusive licensing on several titles (Violet Evergarden, Aggretsuko). HIDIVE has rights to older Sentai titles. For finished classics: legal streaming on Amazon Prime often has better subtitle quality than unofficial sources.
Frequently asked questions
What anime should I start with if I've never watched any?▼
The safest starting points depending on your existing taste: Action fan → Attack on Titan (high production, clear story structure). Fantasy → Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (the most universally recommended). Sci-fi → Cowboy Bebop (episodic, cinematic, Western-accessible). Horror → Death Note (psychological, no gore). Slice of life → Your Lie in April. All five are on mainstream streaming services.
What's the difference between dubbed and subbed anime?▼
Subbed (subtitled Japanese audio) is generally preferred by long-term fans because it preserves original performances — Japanese voice acting is its own art form. Dubbed (English voices) is more accessible for newcomers or multi-taskers. Quality varies by studio: Funimation/Crunchyroll dubs for Attack on Titan and Cowboy Bebop are excellent. For Studio Ghibli films, Disney-licensed dubs with major actors are specifically crafted to be faithful.
Is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood really as good as people say?▼
Yes. It holds a 9.1 on MyAnimeList (2M+ ratings) and a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it earned both scores by doing what almost no long-running show manages: consistent pacing, zero filler, a logical magic system, and an emotionally satisfying ending. It is the closest anime equivalent to Breaking Bad in terms of critical consensus across viewer cohorts.
How many anime episodes should I watch before deciding if a show is for me?▼
Rule of thumb: 3–4 episodes minimum. Anime pilots often spend episode 1 on world-building setup that only pays off later. Exception: if you're bored at episode 3 of a show the community says "picks up at episode 10," skip it — you're not obligated. Attack on Titan is deliberate through episode 5. Demon Slayer hooks you by episode 2.
Where can I watch anime legally and for free?▼
Free legal options: Crunchyroll free tier (ads, 1-week simulcast delay), Tubi (ad-supported, large library), Pluto TV (rotating catalog), Retrocrush (older titles). Paid best value: Crunchyroll Premium ($7.99/mo, largest simulcast library) or Netflix if you already subscribe (good exclusive lineup: Violet Evergarden, Aggretsuko, Devilman Crybaby).