Yep, I’ve finally put together a top shows list. As I hopefully made clear in part one and part two of my critical biases post, this is obviously my list – it represents the things I think are most valuable in stories in the way I think they’ve best been articulated. It’s also just a list of shows I enjoy – there’s no hard criteria here, so I wouldn’t stress the numbers too much. Also, it’s a bit front-loaded – I only started watching anime seasonally about two years ago, so the last couple years are disproportionately represented. Incidentally, I’m not including movies here either – I think direct comparisons between shows and films are a bit of a stretch, but if they were included, this list would certainly be somewhat different. And finally, I’m absolutely (and thankfully) certain this list will change over time – there are still piles of widely beloved shows I’ve never seen, so I’m sure the current rankings will be filled out in the years to come. So with that all said, let’s get to the list – Bobduh’s Top 30 Anime of All Time.
-edit- I have now created a Top Shows Addendum for shows that have either fallen off or just barely missed this list. Please enjoy these additional almost-top shows!
Flip Flappers marries the blossoming artistic vision of many of anime’s most talented young animators to a story teeming with the rich psychological inquiry that anime does so well. Centered on a girl on the verge of young adulthood who feels too paralyzed by consequences to decide who she wants to be, Flip Flappers takes her on a wild adventure through a series of evocative alternate realities, all of which ultimately reflect back on the human interiority of her own world. Flip Flappers appreciates the inherent beauty of our distinct internal worlds, and pairs a wild tour through the human experience with a core character arc that reflects thoughtfully on the complexity of love, identity, and growing up. Slotting somewhere thematically between FLCL and Evangelion, it is a can’t-miss addition to anime’s coming-of-age pantheon.
Here’s my review of Flip Flappers.
Flip Flappers is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Gatchaman’s a goddamn busy show – in the course of a 12-episode run, it covers everything from internet culture to crowdsourcing to the necessity of leadership to social responsibility to human nature to… well, you get the idea. And it explores all these ideas while also staying remarkably light and breezy – you could enjoy the show purely as a fun, visually interesting, musically brilliant adventure without even thinking about how identity is constructed in the digital age, or whatnot. And when you combine these two strengths, you get a show that proves you don’t have to be dry to be smart – you can make awesome points about how the internet will change the world without ever giving up a sense of fun and moment-to-moment excitement. Brain food and comfort food at the same time.
Here’s my review of Gatchaman Crowds.
Gatchaman Crowds is available at Amazon and streams on Crunchyroll.
Giant Robo is Bombast Incarnate. Featuring an epic clash between the Experts of Justice and Big Fire, there’s no room for subtlety in this production – it’s all massive robots and deadly superspies and fights for the fate of the world. It’s also a beautiful thing – a series of seven OVAs released over most of a decade, the show is a gorgeous ode to classic super robot storytelling, brought to life with strong animation and rich colors and epic orchestral scores. And yet for all its larger-than-life size, the show also tells a gripping story, full of fully-articulated characters and reflections on family and human ambition. Giant Robo essentially feels like the final act of the Greatest Robot Story Ever Told – it has absolute confidence, and earns the viewer’s trust through constant dramatic hooks and total polish in execution. Even if you generally like smaller stories, I’d give Giant Robo a chance.
Here’s my essay on Giant Robo.
Giant Robo is vaguely available on Amazon.
Bokurano manages the difficult feat of staying tonally downcast and even desolate at all times while simultaneously conveying an unflinching message of optimism, and belief in humanity as a species. Its premise is terribly arbitrary and cruel, and very few members of its young cast survive, but the stories they tell in their leaving reflect the kaleidoscopic spectrum of the human experience. Its compelling scifi narrative ultimately becomes little more than a stage for its young stars to shine, as they each take up an impossible mantel and fight on behalf of their species, their cruel guide mocking them all the while. But Bokurano does not believe in its guide’s cynicism; though the world it posits is harsh, its young heroes shine all the brighter for it.
Here’s my review of Bokurano.
Bokurano is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kyoto Animation excel at making quietly excellent little dramas, and Sound! Euphonium counts as one more feather in their distressingly pincushioned cap. The show is as gorgeous as you’d expect, the drama is understated but well-articulated, and the episodes are full of those alternately funny or poignant little moments that KyoAni’s mastery of animated storytelling always provokes. And Kumiko is one of the most fun people you could possibly follow around a story like this, with her snark and clumsy bluntness making her a refreshing and relatable protagonist. You can enjoy this show for its close viewing of the classic band experience, for its funny mess of jokes and characters, or for its well-articulated personal drama and reflections on goals and identity. It succeeds on all levels, making it one of the most impressive and fully realized high school dramas around.
Sound! Euphonium is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
As the only long-running shounen on my list, HxH’s a bit of an outlier. But HxH is not your typical shounen – directed by Madhouse (likely my pick for the best studio of all time) and adapted from a source by the writer of Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter is basically a master class in what makes adventure entertaining. Though it starts off “only” demonstrating it knows how to make challenge-based television entertaining (in lieu of actual fights, it generally sets up compelling puzzles of all shapes and sizes for its heroes), it ends up jumping from genre to genre, dabbling in crime thriller, tournament shounen, and even war drama. And through it all, the show’s fantastic aesthetics elevate it above almost everything out there – in direction, in sound design, in pacing, in animation, in basically every relevant aesthetic metric, Hunter x Hunter triumphs. That it’s been maintaining this level of quality for well over a hundred episodes is nothing short of astonishing – in fact, I’d say Hunter x Hunter has only gotten better over time.
Here’s a critical breakdown of HxH episode 116, and here’s an essay on the recently concluded (and breathtaking) Chimera Ant arc.
Hunter x Hunter 2011 is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Mushishi is one of those strange, special shows that seem to just emerge confident and fully constructed, exude excellence for all of their running time, and then go quietly on their way. Its vignettes are dreamy and ambiguous, full of resonance and compelling ideas but never didactic. Its world is mysterious and enchanting, evoking both a more resigned and possibly more dangerous version of Miyazaki’s mystical forests. Its production is fantastic, with beautiful backgrounds matching a wonderfully understated musical score and a great sense of pacing to conjure its powerful, singular atmosphere. And all this works in service of a show that’s fundamentally just incredibly calming and sedate – a series of long, lazy afternoons spent enjoying the company of a master storyteller.
Here’s my essay on Mushishi.
Mushishi is available at Amazon and its sequel streams on Crunchyroll.
Grouped together because they really do feel like two sides of the same coin, both of Gainax’s Buster shows would also make this list independently. Flippant and heartbreaking, cynical and triumphant, personal and universal, each of these OVAs tells a story of humanity’s struggle against all the forces of the universe with style and heart. And each can stand alone, as well – Gunbuster is helmed by a pre-Eva Anno already exhibiting his unnerving style of direction, and Diebuster offers a very appropriate conclusion to the FLCL era of Gainax production. Only six episodes each, too – it’s pretty remarkable how much story each of these manage to tell.
Here are my essays on Gunbuster and Diebuster.
Both Gunbuster and Diebuster are available at Amazon.
Shinsekai Yori is basically tailor-made for fans of fantasy and scifi novels. Heavy on worldbuilding and questions of human nature, its story unfolds on a scale far greater than most anime, exploring a compelling dystopian society by following one generation from childhood through adolescence and well into adulthood. Though I often feel its characters fade into the background of its storytelling pretensions, it all works in service of an incredibly compelling central narrative, and its devastating conclusion justifies everything that came before. It’s a rare and valuable thing – few shows work on the scale of Shinsekai Yori.
Here’s my review of Shinsekai Yori.
Shinsekai Yori is available at Amazon and streams on Crunchyroll.
An idol show?!? I could actually go on for a while about what makes various idol shows great (and I have), but as far as Idolm@ster specifically goes, this show is just a solid episodic drama that succeeds in almost everything it attempts. It’s got a rich and well-developed cast of characters, lots of great little character stories, and a bunch of fun adventures like “the team runs a Sunday game show” or “one idol ends up as a runaway bride while another fights yakuza goons.” On top of that, Idolm@ster features one of the best creative teams in recent memory – a bunch of former Gainax staff and other great creators combine to make this one of the most beautifully directed and animated shows I’ve seen. Even if you don’t have any interest in idols, Idolm@ster’s combination of fun stories and gorgeous execution makes it a rare and impressive show.
Here’s my review of The Idolm@ster.
The Idolm@ster is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Bro you can’t call this a list if Bleach and One Punch Man aint in it.
True. Whenever I put together a grocery list, Bleach and One Punch Man are on it.
true
I dont agree with that, Bleach is good but not for top 30, and One Punch Man good idea, but it is so f*****g overrated
I guess this dude that is writing that comment had only watched twenty anime lol it’s alright to be a new comer
#VeteranKnowledge over 150-175 anime watched
Lol but that ain’t veteran knowledge. I’m the true veteran over 200.
you are a scrub ass bitch
dafuk u said Bleach doesn t deserve to be on the top 30 ,go do ur homework
bleach should at least be on the top 5
No DBZ at number 1? That list is seriously garbage lol
Bleach is good but it has i guess 2-3 seasons full of fillers man………..shit gets boring!!!
and don’t fourght ONE PIECE bro
except Bleach is actual shit. Literal shit.
Lol where’s the like button when u need it
Agreed. I read the manga and watched the anime until that Arrancar shit. It started ok but after the end of the first arc it went downhill pretty fast.
Bleach is better than SO much of this list. It’s underrated by ppl who heard the word filler mentioned a few time and decided to jump on the bandwagon to hate Bleach
You realize that this was written in 2014 and OPM was a 2015 anime?
List author here – I actually update the show pretty regularly with new stuff. You can generally consider it up-to-date as of a few months before any given time, and my last update was just a couple weeks ago.
Have you considered Berserk?
I would recommend adding Deadman Wonderland to the list lots of action, drama, and a great story and anime over all.
Anime isn’t all that bad, especially since its shonen. That being said, the manga far surpasses it.
this list was made in 2014.
I’m the first to sing the praises for One Punch Man and the first 60 episodes of Bleach, but they DEFINITELY don’t deserve the to be on this list. These animes are very character focused and all about how the characters work and develop. Clearly there are some that aren’t, but they’re the best that type of show/genre has to offer. One Punch Man is funny and the fights are great to watch, but it doesn’t hit the right notes to be considered one of the greatest animes of all times. For the first 60 episodes Bleach has a great atmosphere and OST, solid fights with decent build up, and even good comedy, but there are way too many flaws to stand atop so many others and be considered one of the greatest. Again though, this is me attempting to look through the author’s looking glass. I can’t claim to know exactly why he chose to put some shows above others, but I can attempt to give some reasons. Also, don’t insult other’s opinions on things just because they differ. He’s clearly given an incredible amount of thought to this list and tried his best to explain why he put what shows where so it’s not only unfair, but incredibly rude to claim that he can’t call this a list just because he doesn’t have two shows that you think should be on here. You can ask him why he chose not to put them on here and debate the topic of why or why not they should be included in a top 30 list, but to claim that this can’t be called a list like you did is a dick move.
tl;dr Shut up, this is his article about his favorite shows. Support your opinion if you want to share it. Sorry for the essay.
One punch man didn’t exist when he did this list…
Read the date it was wrote when you want to say something like this
Bro you can’t go to an anime list and except all your favourite anime to be on it.
Look, One Punch Man is pure fun to watch, but IT IS NOT one of the best anime series ever created!
Let’s be real here, the real crime is the lack of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. I mean, I get it if it isn’t your favorite anime (even though it’s the greatest in the world,) but for it not to be in your top 30 is a good indication that you either haven’t seen it… or your opinion is wrong.
And what’s with Steins;Gate being so low? Psshhh
Well if you looked at his links, you’ll see he doesn’t care about plot. Both of those shows have really well-formed plots as their main strengths. Incidentally, he hasn’t seen Brotherhood.
i think bleach, naruto, one piece, fairy tail and all those are too overrated though. like everyone know about them and they have like at least 500 episodes each.
I love the list. I’m currently watching Shiki, I loved gurren lagan, and I liked evangelion. There are three anime that I recommend you check out as soon as possible, Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Berserk, and Death Note.. Please just watch the first 5 episodes of each…..
I’ve actually read both Monster and Death Note, and enjoyed both of them!
Whats so great about berserk? Ive seen the first 5 episodes. Looks like a horrible anime with no plot
The anime is admittedly low quality. But have you seen the manga? world of difference (in a good way)
The Manga is way better, but some of the ideas are harmful and atheistic later on.
Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by harmful?
“Atheistic”… how can not believing in God be an idea?
How can you not have code geass?
It used to be #29, ya know!
Check his top shows addendum.
Watched 27, 26, 23, 22, (a bit of 21), 16 (because of this list), 13, 6, 4, 2, 1 and am currently watching 8 because of this list as well. I’m reading the Spice and Wolf light novels and SERIOUSLY recommend reading them if you haven’t. It really improves on the banter between Holo and Lawrence so much it’s amazing. I read the first 5 before I started to watch the show and found it seriously lacking their banter myself, but still great. I’m a big fan of characters and honestly love this list to death already. Toradora was amazing and I’m so glad I watched it thank you! OreGairu is pretty interesting. I’m on the tenth episode and am enjoying it. I plan on watching every single show on here now, probably next up is Kids on The Slope or Ping Pong. I’d love to just chill and talk anime with you sometime if you’re ever interested man. Good luck with your reviews I will be keeping an eye on this site from now when I’m looking into an anime!
If you read the mangas to Monster and Death Note have you watched the animes?? And also read Berserk manga best manga I’ve ever read
When he says he read them, he means he only read them. He doesn’t like Death Note’s director, and he just hasn’t got to Monster’s anime since it’s long and just a copy of the original.
You can check out his profile on My Anime List to see what he has watched, is watching, plans to watch, etc.
http://myanimelist.net/profile/Bobduh
Where the hell is Naruto???
It should have been on the top
He hasn’t seen that one! If you go to the “current projects” tab though, you can request it as a show for him to watch by donating!
you joking, right? Naruto is a good anime but he don’t deserve a place on this list. Btw I honestly think that if Ruuka no Yuusha had more season, he would deserve a place. Same for hyoukai no kanata, ALSO REMEMBER THAT THIS LIST IS THE AUTOR PERSONAL LIST SO IT IS NORMAL THAT U DONT TOTALLY AGREE WITH, sorry for disturbing with this comment but i get mad when people say “no naruto wtf” or “it isnt a list if opm and bleach arent here”. sry again
No naruto , full metal Al chemist brother hood, no death note , even if it is a kids show no dbz!, no attack on titans , no gundam wing.what the fuck is this , and what the fuck is pulla magica or whatever the fuck that is
This is the best anime of all time not best heart breaks or characteor suffering or what ever the shit you talk about, and I still can’t believe the magica shin . Man you’re a dull person get a life.
nerd rage much?
At the beginning of Bobduh’s list, he wrote:
“As I hopefully made clear in part one and part two of my critical biases post, this is obviously my list – it represents the things I think are most valuable in stories in the way I think they’ve best been articulated. It’s also just a list of shows I enjoy – there’s no hard criteria here, so I wouldn’t stress the numbers too much.”
I hope that clears up your confusion.
I’m surprised I did not see Trigun, Berserk or Death Note on this list.
It’s not easy to get him to watch a shonen anime (the original manga he’ll sometimes check out). Berserk’s on his to-watch list though.
Bruuuuh..
Code Geass
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Death Note
Attack on titan
Akame ga Kill
..
Come on.. I honestly havent watched any anime in your top 20. But ive seen a lot of anime, and I know at least code geass fullmetal and death note should be in any top 15.
Rest assured that all 20 of them are better.
Akame ga kill? you must have a very bad taste of anime, akame ga kill is shit anime destroyed by Whitefox Studio, the anime have totally different story to the manga.
FMA:brotherhood, Code geas and death note are good animes. Akame ga kill is just stupid after the 17th episode I think? When the studio takes over the manga and develop it’s own story.
If you haven’t watched any of the anime series in his Top 20, how would you know how good they are? Some of those series are basically anime classics.
For one, Akame ga Kill is super mediocre and predictable. Obviously you can like what you want but most veteran anime fans would agree that Akame ga Kill belongs nowhere near a Top 20, or even 100 list.
First,
At the beginning of Bobduh’s list, he wrote:
“As I hopefully made clear in part one and part two of my critical biases post, this is obviously my list – it represents the things I think are most valuable in stories in the way I think they’ve best been articulated. It’s also just a list of shows I enjoy – there’s no hard criteria here, so I wouldn’t stress the numbers too much.”
Second:
Check out his My Anime List profile to see what he has watched, is watching, plans to watch, etc.
No clannad? no monster? are u serious?
Clannad – It felt really cliche for him, and he hated the ending. There was a lot he liked but it wasn’t consistent.
Monster – He loves the manga, but he hasn’t gotten to the anime yet.
clannad is such shit
1 dimensional characters. They make women look so pathetic and weak its ridiculous. The eyes are sentient.
The whole show is retarded.
it’s so realistic it’s unpalatable
U have missed a few classics which are definitely worth a mention seeming their way better then most of the shows on your list like INUYASHA, Kenshin the wandering samurai, CLAYMORE, Fullmetal Alchemist brother hood of war, fullmetal panic fumoffu, school rumble, samurai champloo
Also where is Yu Yu Hakusho ( I know i spelled it wrong lol)
Should also check out Jyu-Oh-Sei great story I think the author would love it
I absolutely love this list. Every time I want to find a new series to watch I always end up coming back here. Thanks for introducing me to Evangelion and the Tatami Galaxy!
I was also surprised to see that you updated this list recently and put Euphonium on here. I’m a euphonium player myself and I really enjoyed the show a lot. It encompassed a lot of the different emotions I had when I was in high school band – awesome show!
Been reading the comments and got a bit curious:
Do “Bread” and “Bobduh’s Stalker” use the same IP address?
Yeah, it’s my “opinions name” vs my “answering questions about this blogger’s tastes because I read way too much of him name”
There is no Naruto, one piece, akame ga kill, attack on titan, history’s strongest disciple kenichi, beelzebub, bleach, full metal alchemist, death note, fairy tail, toriko, katekyo hitman reborn, not one of those are contained in this list, this is why i have trust issues XD
Popular anime does not always mean best anime. In addition, this is the author’s list, not an amalgamation of all top anime lists on the web. That being said, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Although over the past year I’ve learned to highly regard his reviews and opinions on various anime, that does not mean I like the same shows. Plus, read the first paragraph at the top of the list, that should clear up any confusion or misgivings you have (hopefully).
Next to Madoka Magica, Shinsekai yori, Mushishi, Steins;Gate, … I think “Serial Experiments Lain” and “Ergo Proxy” should be in the top 30 Anime list. What do you think?
Have you watched them and do you agree? And if not what didn’t you like about these two shows?
I would be happy about an answer, thanks and great list btw.
Ergo Proxy isn’t all that good. Great soundtrack and premise, but it seems to try to be deep and mysterious and fails at it.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I would actually like to agree with you, but mecha type animes are not my style. I prefere comic and terror animes. And the ones I prefere out of them all are Death Note, One Punch Man and Monster.
Any sugestion?
Been watching rom-com lately.
Toradora
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
These were great my favorites so far in this genre.
what are other good romcoms
School Rumble is probably my all time favorite romcom.
I liked Ore Monogatari!! for its characters (though I think it wasted some potential) and Chuunibyou was really good looking and funny. Bakemonogatari is arguably a romcom, though the rest of the series is certainly not.
Spice and Wolf is a classic rom-com, and I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying is pretty great. Katanagatari has a lot of action elements, but the way it handles the chemistry and romance between the main couple is probably among the best I’ve ever seen. Haven’t seen Chuunibyou or School Rumble yet, but I’ve heard a lot of positive things about them.
Also, although I really don’t consider Yahari Ore Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru a rom-com, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend you watch the second season if you haven’t — I didn’t actually love the first season (I thought it was pretty decent), but the second season was a full-blown 10/10.
Steins Gate should be much higher in my opinion. It’s my personal favorite anime.
I see you didn’t put most of the mainstream animes in the list. That’s actually smart and i’ll surely check some of the animes in this list.
Thanks!
Idk about that since you know… I totally accept your opinion! I just thunk this is wrong because Naruto, MY favorite anime is not here. I think you should check out Naruto!!
Sorry to bother if I did…..
Anime fangirl
What do you like about Naruto that makes it your favorite?
Wtf its full of romance anime what about gintama its the best and death note .fm alchemist brotherhood .steins gate is 27 wtf for real
Does your link mean that you’re supposed to be a personification of MAL?
Not lookin for trolling or anything, but considering you keep your list fairly up to date, could you explain why One Piece isnt on it? I know that its a rather love it or hate it anime, but considering it has managed to stay fresh even though its one of the longest lasting anime’s in recent time as well as having fairly comprehensive characters, id say it should be somewhere on the list.
He hasn’t seen it, so he can’t judge it.
Yeah I understand and agree, One Piece is awesome. And also I WANT TO KNOW WHY NARUTO ISNT IN IT? For me, Naruto is my fave anime. And most of the real good anime’s aren’t here.
Sorry to bother if I did….
Anime Fangirl
I’m just gonna throw this here since it has been bothering me for a while…the plural of anime is anime (like the plural of sheep is sheep).
Narrow was great but if you are referring Shipoudon then way too much filler
just another moe addict
https://twitter.com/B0bduh/status/687121172538998784
Great list! Refreshing to see that it’s not packed full of the usual suspects, but also includes some of those old favourites that do storytelling particularly well. This is coming from someone that grew up with anime in Japan and could never catch the shows on TV because we moved so often…
I don’t really think the list is right, or fine in my opinion. For me my fave Anime isn’t here and It has won awards, One of the most viewed Anime’s ever, and Is the best running Anime in 2015-2016. That anime is Naruto!!!
I know some people don’t like this Anime, or prefer another, but I highly disagree and I want this to change.
Anime Fangirl
Naruto simply has too much filler. Great show that gets you itching for the next episode just to start a random story about how Naruto (or some other main character ) Did “A” to obtain “B” and it has nothing to do with the main story. This is the same thing that killed Bleach.
BTW best animal not on this list are Full Metal Alchemist brotherhood, Yu Yu Hakusho and Ju-Oh-Sei
Rest assured you’re still allowed to love shows that aren’t on this list, and even think they’re better than shows that are on this list. You can even think some shows on this list aren’t good. It’s a good time to be alive.
And I suppose your opinion is the only one that is right? To be fair I haven’t watched any part of Naruto but it looks like one of those series that went on for far too long, with tons of filler.
It could have been a lot better than it was.
Naruto is a great show but has the tendency to jump into filler at critical story moments. Plus filler can be anywhere from 2-50 episodes of doo do crap
I would like to add an important link I feel the author should have included in the article:
because.moe
He provides links to Amazon to buy the anime, but there are also many ways to legally stream them, often for free (esp if you live in North America). The site “because.moe” allows you to search which anime are streaming on which sites.
lame list really. where’s trigun?
I’ve been watching some anime from your list, and I really like them. So far, I’ve watched Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, Katanagatari, Hunter x Hunter (2011), Cowboy Bebop, as well as Code Geass and Baccano! from your Addendum. Right now I’m watching Revolutionary Girl Utena, and I’m planning to move on to Spice and Wolf and Ping Pong. MSMM and Katanagatari are amazing, HxH is brilliant too, Cowboy Bebop had so much potential it didn’t use, Baccano! is an absolute riot, and I did not like Code Geass. I would have watched more, but I foolishly chose a recommendation from two people I know. It is a truly horrid anime which is called Black Butler or Kuroshitsuji in Japanese. If you’ve watched it, you know my pain. If not, stay away.
I found Black Butler to be OK, but boring. I watched about half of it before dropping it.
I was wonder where Puella Magi Madoka Magica was because most people put it somewhere around 20 and I was so pleased to see it at 2! It’s one of my favourite anime series.
Just saying, Elfen Lied is awesome if you don’t mind violence. Given it does employ the whole “main character with amnesia” bit more than it should, but it does create an interesting dynamic when applied in a psychotic-romantic sense. Also, the manga isn’t bad, but goes WAY over the top. Kumiko Noma did quite well performing the intro. Simple melody, yet extremely serene.
Another suggestion (I’m one for gore and violence): Hellsing. Ultimate or the original, doesn’t matter they’re both good. Not much in the way of character development, but for once it makes vampires cool, and portrays them in a different light. Manga is pretty solid as well. Soundtrack is pretty average, does justice to the fight scenes.
Forgot to mention, Elfen Lied is certainly geared to a more “mature” audience due to gore and nudity. The nudity makes sense, not like “hey lets just throw some breasts in here”, more like “treated as an animal, no clothes ever given” kinda thing. Anyways, still good if you don’t mind that sort of thing
What about Fairy Tail? 🙁
Aye
List is shit.
Where is Naruto, One Piece, Bleach…..these are like the only animes ever made anyway
What do you mean by, “only animes ever made anyway?”
Again, this is Bobduh’s opinion. I have enjoyed Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach like many people, but you shouldn’t get locked in that kind of anime genre. Especially when there are some really great anime out there that are nothing like them. Try out Hunter x Hunter (2011). I think it is a good mix of what you would like and what appeals to the author. I think if you compare that kind of show to the other shonen’s you watch, you can tell the difference. It isn’t just the adventure and fights, it is also the message and execution that can really bring an anime together. Check it out!
Also try YuYu Hakusho has some of the best fights
Fantastic list! whenever i need an anime to watch i come here and pick one from the list, they have all been great though i couldn’t really get into Utena which is strange because i loved mawaru penguindrum and it one of my all time favorite animes. Maybe ill try it again sometime.
Great list – so many watch anime just for the fight scenes and the action- an important criteria I think is when an anime gives you that uplifting childlike feeling – that chilling excitement knowing you’ve got this amazing new anime to explore – like a combined recipe of exploration, landscapes, tradition, love of food – characters that have a sense of unbounding compassion and those that have a lust for death and disaster – some animes sparkle with that. early episodes of One Piece & Rurouni Kenshin – the original Hunter x Hunter.
I really appreciate the existence of this list, because you are an excellent writer in conveying your precise thoughts on what does and doesn’t work toward a show’s goals and for your own taste, and because anime is sorely in need of this sort of incisive criticism. I also very much appreciate your transparency in detailing elsewhere your own subjective preferences in art.
That being said, based especially on your choices and commentary throughout this list, it seems like you also have a particular preference for shows that explore the angst of adolescence and the transition into adulthood – this being something you did not admit to in your critical evaluation articles. I understand you value well-written characters and themes most of all, but this list really felt like it had the subject matter I mentioned as an unspoken trump card for any show that dealt with it, whereas shows like, say, Full Metal Alchemist ’03 and Mushishi (also Berserk, though I know you haven’t yet seen it) were either lower than expected or left off entirely. This was not only because I personally felt the stories they told were among the most powerful in anime, but because your own writing on them seemed to recognize their strengths, including strengths in character or theme that you’ve said are most valuable to you.
To be fair, it’s also likely that anime is relatively over-saturated with shows exploring teenage angst in comparison to other subject matter. This both implies there is inevitably going to be more high-quality ones churning out at some point, and that finding shows that have nothing to do with this is greatly refreshing to me (I will also admit that any sort of romance in a show is a large turn-off for me). Am I seeing a pattern where there is none in your preferences?
I think your own reflections on anime in general in the final paragraph are more of the actual answer here – anime itself is heavy on stories about adolescence, and so there’s naturally going to be a higher number of good stories there. I do certainly like stories that are heavy on character interiority, but I’ll take that interiority in the context of almost any conflict. And stuff like Shirobako, Eccentric Family, Kyousogiga, etc aren’t really about adolescence – plus many shows that take place during their characters’ teen years, like Madoka or Ping Pong, aren’t really about that as a theme either.
As far as FMA specifically goes, while I feel that show was certainly rich in ideas, as an overall production, I felt it had too many issues to bring those ideas home in a compelling narrative or emotional sense. It’s a show I felt was much stronger on paper than it was in practice.
excuse me, where is Tokyo Ghoul and Assassination Classroom? I know they are relative new anime but the story and character development is actually very good. these are the anime that makes you smile, laugh and sad at the same time.
He saw the first episodes; must’ve thought the story and character development in these ones was better. There are 11,000 anime; it would be unrealistic to expect every good one to be on this list.
Thank you for this list.
Fuck these 12 year babies crying about shitty action generic animes not being on the list. Fuck you all. Absolute piece of shit taste all of you have. This man has a great taste. Neon Genesis in the GOAT. I would put Mushishi and Lain in top 10 but that’s my opinion. Good job.
If you like action animes you deserve to die horribly.
Everyone has there own opinion amigo. Not everyone is going to be of the same opinion as the author, or yourself. I am inclined to agree with many of the author’s ideas, but people have various tastes. In addition, people CHANGE and GROW. I would have never watched most of these shows when I was in my teenage years. I watched Kenshin, DBZ, Naruto, etc. Now, those are good throwback shows, but not what I enjoy most. You really need to remember that when considering what you read.
Have you heard of the series “Avatar: The Last Airbender”? It isn’t technically an anime, but it is heavily influenced by it. It is all-around amazing, I think you’d really enjoy it.
Eureka 7 needs to be on some list somewhere along with Guilty Crown. They both have some of the most beautiful stories about humanity I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
If you go to the projects tab, you’ll see that he’s been paid to watch a bit of Eureka Seven. So he hasn’t seen it yet, but he’s gonna see some, and maybe eventually all of it.
As for Guilty Crown, he dropped it half way.
You are missing one of the most amazing animes ever produced, Saint Seya, it’s hard to believe that there’s no mention of it here
Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Champloo, Clannad/Clannad: After Story, and Dragonball Z aren’t on this list. So while many of the animes on this list are good, these aren’t “the top 30 anime of all time”
Dude, you can’t consider this as a list of best anime of all times without SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN (ATTACK ON TITAN). (-__-)
I mean, theoretically, you could if you considered SnK to be a 6/10 anime while having a rather large list of shows you’ve given a 9 or higher, like the writer of this list does.
I loved how well you described these anime.I’ll be checking then out. I have watch several anime but just about none of what you have listed which makes me a newbie and also very excited to look into these because I love the complexities of human nature and relationships.
I would like to see more anime like MONONOKE (the medicine man)and no I don’t mean princess mononke. If anyone has recommendations on styles like that.
Gatchaman Crowds (on this list) has the same director, Kenji Nakamura. Masaaki Yuasa (Ping Pong the Animation, the Tatami Galaxy, Kaiba, etc.) is another director who tells really good stories in distinctive visual styles.
Check out Kenshin [ova] when you get a chance. 4 quick movie/episodes. good stuff. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours.
He loved the OVA! He’s considered adding it to this list, but he wants to rewatch it first so he has a better idea of how much he liked it. He saw it a long while ago apparently.
Okay that is the biggest shitty list i have ever seen , the guy who put this knows shit abt anime , dude ur list lacks all the Masterpieces
Care to name a few?
That’s because masterpieces are shit.
Thank you for posting this list. I was looking for a new anime to watch and this list has more than a few that I will be adding to my list.
Based off of your list I would recommend that you add after war gundam x, because it does remind me of evangelion – somewhat…
Beck is also a really great anime that I reluctantly watched and suprisingly liked. It seems like another anime you would like.
Here is short list of some of my favorites, not in any particular order:
Deathnote
One piece
Berserk
Dbz
Rurouni kenshin and ovas
Seven deadly sins – netflix
Full metal alchemist/brotherhood/panic
Naruto/naruto shippuden (I skipped most of the fillers)
Initial D
I haven’t started one punch man, but I will soon.
Anyone has any recommendations based on my list?
Mostly entry level, so I suppose you’re fairly new to anime? Watch Akame ga Kill; you might enjoy it. Also, Steins:Gate and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
Sounds like you’re an action fan. If that’s the case: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill might be good for you. Psycho-Pass is kinda like Death Note but with more action and what I’d consider to be a way better synthesis of setting and focus (not sure if that matters to you).
I hear Beck is a lot like Kids on the Slope, so I’d recommend Kids on the Slope (I plan to watch Beck eventually).
And Attack on Titan is a good action show that has the same music composer as Seven Deadly Sins and the same director as Death Note.
I agree with Ice Fang that Akame ga Kill sounds like your type of show.
If you watch One Punch Man and think it drags on too much, I recommend Inferno Cop.
Tengen Toppa Gurenn Lagann
Code Geass
Shigatsu wa kimi no uso
that list sucks
I liked TTGL and Kimi Uso! Why do you think they suck?
have you considered Death Parade for the list?
it is a very very solid anime i think
It’s actually included in the addendum, which has a link at the top of the list. There’s a decent number of extra shows in there!
Where is SAO???!!!
#22
Where is naruto
#22.
I’ve started The Tatami Galaxy now, I’m about three episodes in. You’re right, it is indeed a ride. It’s so beautiful and incredibly artistic. I seem to have a soft spot for normal people’s stories, I’m noticing. Hunter x Hunter would be an exception. Anyway, I love The Tatami Galaxy’s art style, and the idea is really compelling, I wonder where they’ll go with it. The only minor problem is that they talk very fast. I actually like it, but it sometimes prevents me from looking at the gorgeous artwork because I have to read the subtitles really fast. I hope they don’t do that in Ping Pong, I’m planning to watch that one next.
Where is Fullmetal Alquemist Brotherhood, Death Note, DBZ, Shingeki no kyojin ? WTF !!!!
#22, #38 on the Addendum, #32 on the addendum, and #15.