Top 30 Anime Series of All Time

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!

30. Flip Flappers

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.

29. Gatchaman Crowds

Gatchaman Crowds Best Anime List

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.

28. Giant Robo

Giant Robo Best Anime List

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.

27. Bokurano

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.

26. Sound! Euphonium

Sound! Euphonium Best Anime List

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.

25. Hunter x Hunter 2011

Hunter x Hunter 2011 Best Anime List

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.

24. Mushishi

Mushishi Best Anime List

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.

23. Gunbuster! + Diebuster!

Gunbuster vs Diebuster Best Anime List

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.

22. Shinsekai Yori

Shinsekai Yori Best Anime List

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.

21. The Idolm@ster

The Idolmaster Best Anime List

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.

2,750 thoughts on “Top 30 Anime Series of All Time

  1. Dude half of these are garbage animes I’ve watched so many anime I can’t even remember but half of these were so bad I cringed watching them but I never back out from an anime

    • “Never back out” is an interesting mindset for addressing cartoons, considering they’re meant to make their viewer pleased. I don’t think the creators meant for their work to be an endurance challenge.

          • Lol, don’t ever call anime cartoons. Cartoons are aimed toward children and typically simple/straight forward plots. Typically, most anime targets much older crowds and tend to be rated R. If you still think anime are cartoons, then you haven’t seen enough

          • “Don’t even call anime cartoons”.
            What if I tell you that anime is Japanese word for cartoons…

          • The word ‘anime’ is based on the original japanese pronunciation of the american word ‘animation.’

          • +@me That is not true at all. There is a crapload of anime for children, and I bet a lot of stuff you watch is targeted towards teenagers (I know a lot of mine is).

          • the defintion of anime is a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children (not cartoons dumbass)

          • Bruh, I’ve got your back on this one.

            “Cartoon” is the American term for animation. For English-speakers, “anime” is a subgene for Japanese animation. For Japanese-speakers, however, “anime” means ALL animation. In Japan they would refer to Family Guy, Teen Titans, Flintstones, and Lion King ALL as “anime”. This is a fact.

            As far as getting upset that “cartoons are only meant for little kids!” that’s false. The Western perception is that animation, in general, is meant for younger audiences but that isn’t necessarily true. “Cartoon” by definition is: “a motion picture using animation techniques to photograph a sequence of drawings rather than real people or objects.”

            Although the word “cartoon” gets a bad rap it certainly doesn’t only mean it’s for children or it’s simplistic in nature. Airbender and Korra, for instance, are cartoons (as they are not created by the Japanese but are only influenced by them). However, since we’re all English speakers here, denoting the difference between “cartoon” and “anime”, or rather “western animation” and “Japanese animation” is a distinction that should be noted.

    • Just because the blogger has different tastes doesn’t make these anime “garbage.” It’s all based on personal preferences. I’ve watched anime for 15 years and read manga for 11 years. I’ve practically grown up with anime.
      It has been a staple part of my childhood and continues to be something that I enjoy as a pastime as an adult.

      And through the years, I’ve watched over hundreds of anime ranging from all genres, from mainstream to the more discreet variety, and each and everyone of them has it’s own merits. They all have pitfalls and flaws, some bigger than others, but I wouldn’t ever consider someone tastes as trash simply because it doesn’t align with my own interests. This is something toxic that I find rather prevalent in the anime community, but I guess this is what happens on the internet where anyone can post anything under the guise of anonymity.

      • ridiculous
        however, i think the most people will agree that more than the half is trash
        under the guise of anonymity or not
        – by the way, any rancid kid can put up a stupid website like this. also under the guise of anonymity.

        this list totally sucks

        oh and by the, i registered with my real email adress ms victoria

        • I guess what’s really funny is the two shows you called boring are a show with a really high MAL rating (Kids on the Slope) and a show that’s largely considered one of the best anime of its time, if not all time (Haibane Renmei).

      • I’m an older adult. Let me tell you of what I’ve noticed about people who have a hard time watching anime. They have no imagination. Firstly, anime is judged on a whole different metric than ‘normal’ film. When someone else watches anime they struggle their hardest to point out ‘what doesn’t seem real’ and then that becomes the distraction. Yet they will enthusiastically watch ‘Die Hard’ or ‘Wolverine’ or ‘Star Trek’ and praise the show for it’s ability to be believable. Live action films take for granted a foundation of humanity that anime must build over and over again every time a new show is made. Instead of a weakness, this is a strength for anime. An artist or storyteller has the ability to completely weave a new fabric together for the show.
        Secondly, animated shows are that. Animated. You will always have 90 percent of a population (at least in the US) that cannot overcome the fact that it is a ‘cartoon’ which is for kids. Yet they can watch Little Dragon’s Twice video, and all the sudden it’s deep art. Oddly, a realistic proof of this is that CGI falls some where between the realm of animation and live action film. Thirdly, animes are often dealing with fundamentalist topics. Read this; NO GRAY AREAS. This quite often contributes to the first item on my list. Spend a great deal of time struggling with gray areas makes a film believable. You should take note, this speaks volumes about the consumer. I prefer watching fundamentalist films anyways, since people today struggle so much with gray area topics they can’t even function with core ideals anymore. As a form of entertainment, I prefer story telling over selling ideas anyways. Thanks for the list, I’m always looking for more good shows even if I have to eat a few bad ones for the course.

      • so mister you saying that u r an expert ttell me 5 different animes from different generas such as romance supernatural and others but then they must animes you liked and i will contact u later some how probably i will rate them

      • I couldn’t agree more with your views on anime you are very wise. I thought that was pretty funny about the endurance challenge tho a couple posts back lol you can do it!!!!! I like their drive

    • Can confirm that^^

      Espefially Hainabane – Oh geez, that was so boring sh**
      And Kids On The Slope – I just stopped after the 2nd episode.

      Half of them are really just crap

      • I’ve seen kids on the slope recently, I found this brilliant, and certainly not boring at all!

      • That is your own opinion so stop forcing it out to the open to discourage possible lovers of each show that you hate.
        I for a fact absolutely LOVE Kids on the Slope.
        The emotion and the cutness just mixes perfectly with the soft plot and the ending the follows just wraps it up so nicely.
        Also, you cant judge an anime after the 2nd episode I mean come on dude.
        If you suck it up and watch more than two episodes, then you might change your view even just a little. You didnt give it enough time to sink in the feeling of the story.
        It also depends on the mood and the setting and the time of day you are in.
        At least watch six episodes before you start bashing them.

    • Considering that you’ve already seen them why not check out one of his written pieces and see why the writer of this blog enjoyed them. Who knows you might even end up agreeing with his pice once your done.

    • well, to each their own i guess. i enjoyed most of the anime on this list, but then again, i can’t say i’m some hardcore otaku.
      also, i don’t really understand what do you want to express in your comment, interpunction is a pretty important part of sentence syntax, mr. All Anime I Don’t Enjoy Are Trash.

    • The value system by which people judge entertainment is deeply intertwined with their own personal background and desire for consumption, a fact Bob has never ceased to point out, in essays on this site no less. What makes his opinions as a critic and writer valuable is his desire and ability to articulate what he thinks are the merits and drawbacks of the Anime he discusses. As such, I find his opinions valuable, even when I disagree, and that is an attitude I have taken to taste of all media consumption. It matters more to me that people have thought about what they think about a piece of media says (to them) and can express it that gives us, as people, ground to discuss it. Unfortunately, it is far easier for people to use inflammatory platitudes and generalizations, especially on the internet where they can simply have their statements upvoted or supported by others. This cheapens the discussion as to the merit of something as superficially trivial as Anime, which is actually far from as it is consumed more in the US. So when I say your assurance that these Anime are “Garbage” is meaningless, it is both a merciless criticism of the juvenile attitude you seem to bring to the table, while simultaneously being an invitation to a response, in the hopes that these comments can be both a place for discussion and for expansion to previously unconsidered horizons.

    • anime is not cartoon because anime are drawn in a similar way as for cartoon is can be in any form but it has to be a drawing plus anime is a abbreviation to animation here “The word is the abbreviated pronunciation of “animation” in Japanese” these words are from Wikipedia here is the link
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
      and if you love anime you would not call it cartoon

    • what the heck fighting for the word “anime” and “cartoon” tsk anime is commonly from japan while cartoons are basically from the americans,simple right??

  2. Brooo.. wtf u just forgot one piece, naruto, fairy tail, dragon ball… Most people watch these animes instead of watching these 24 episodes animes

    • Interestingly, if you talk to many of the people in East Asia they’ll talk about watching Detective Conan. It’s super popular there.

    • Broooooo i watched all of these and lifted at the same time now i can fight you about how bad they are. did u even consider that maybe anime is a big part of some peoples lives????? thats me. I like it but sometimes i forget that its not real and i end up trying to use dragon shogun on my teacher when he refuses to give up his soul juko. sum pepeol just never learn their lessons

    • I cannot believe that he doesn’t have FMA:Brotherhood. Best manga and anime ever made. Almost everyone agrees to this!

    • I totally agree with you. Naruto, One Piece and Fairy Tail will hit you in the feels, that’s why I’m addicted to anime.

      • Lol, after watching a few naruto and a little of fairy tail and bleach I have avoided anime like them and have not even attempted One Piece and a few others..I can’t believe y’all can call them good when their so small minded. Hunter x hunter was in that list but after trying it I got hooked and dragon ball z might be like hunter, but it takes a lot to make a GOOD anime

    • Lol, those are most of the amine I have avoided watching after watching a small, but good enough, amount.

      • Hah hah hah
        Those are most of the anime i have totally loved.
        I’ve seen 17 out of the list and loved them.
        I’m really into seinen and a bit of slower and though provoking stuff. Such as “Kino”, “tatami galaxy” or “katanagatari” are perfect for me. I guess its a nitch.
        Not truly mainstream stuff.

        I can use this list to find more anime i like you can use this list for knowing which to avoid. WIN WIN 😀

        Hah hah hah

    • Dude if you’re calling fairy tail “one of the best anime series” then you are too easily impressed. Probably the only real reason why you watch it is for the fan service or mediocre fights that Natsu and his friendship power will always win. I had to drop the anime over that fucking bullshit tournament arc and the one after it (I don’t care for the name of it anyway but you know what I’m talking about) I will admit that it was somewhat enjoyable the first 3 seasons but it went downhill once that horrendous tournament arc was made.

      • I know right i watch fairy tail too but if you call it the best anime then you are dumb .there is animes like Code Geass and Death note which are way better.

    • Are you legit, these are the COD of anime: very well liked and high-budget, while being average and repetitive.

  3. i dont mean to judge your taste in anime but i think anime’s like FMA ,death note, dragon ball ,naruto, one piece, bleach,code geass also deserve a spot

    • Code Geass is in his top shows addendum. I’ve seen a lot of shows from this list and can vouch for them. If you have the time you should check out one of his written pieces. It’ll give you a better idea of what he looks for. Dragon Ball, One piece and Bleach are really long shounens with 200+ episodes, this leads to both repetition and taking too long to approach a conclusion and it”s themes. Also he has a written piece on FMA so you should check that out, he did enjoy it but just not as much as these shows.

    • exactly – and not “kids on the slope”
      that was one of the worst shit i have ever seen bahahaa

    • No offence but anime like

      Bleach, with an intricate world of hollows and shinigami and straight forward storyline.
      Code geass, a crestfallen noble seeks to reclaim his throne. He is given the power to control anyone effortlessly but soon comes to resent his power. He thought his power would give him everything but all he gains is bloodshed and a lonely lifestyle. Underlying themes are politics, supernatural elements, philosophy,
      And prejudice.
      Fairy tail, come on this show has a solid story line and is one of the few anime’s with over a hundred characters(count them, I dare you) even with a wide range of characters the story doesn’t lose focus and each character gets a chance to show their true nature and personality(there is no filler character in this anime, everyone has a contribution to the main story)
      Death note, I need not say more. Suspenseful, entertaining and solid storyline. And this anime has one solid theme; Consequence. Even the main character dies for gods sake, a rare occurance in any visual medium.
      One piece, if you hate one piece you’re just not imaginative enough. Honestly one piece has a solid storyline and for an anime to go over 600+ EPs without fillers is unheard of. The story is rich with character development and not everything magically works out for the protagonists.
      FMA, another anime that deals with consequence, two brothers wish to revive their dead mom, will it work out? Of course it will its anime and things workout for the protagonists. Wrong! Things go wrong and the characters have no magical ‘things will work out moments’ , they work grit and teeth till an outcome is achieved.

      Dragon ball franchise is merely popular and a hyper commercialized garbage. Its entertaining but has no depth.

      Only 10 of the anime in this list have real value and unquestionable complexity. But the rest are just Cute and Pretty. Honestly this list doesn’t even encompass anime with great themes like:
      Ergo proxy
      Tengen toppa gurren laggan
      Psycho pass
      Sword art online
      Noragami
      Seraph of the end
      Ghost in the shell(this anime is such a classic it has over 8 remakes and people still love it)
      Elfen Lied
      Parasite(wonderful)
      Shingeki no kyojin

      Stop seeing anime as cute cool pretty pictures, this list is ridiculous and the writer seems fairly new to anime.
      I’ve watched so much anime It would take me a month to recollect all their names (over 300 but less than 500)
      I know people who’ve watched a thousand and more.
      This list mocks the serious nature that anime has, it’s just an eccentric snobbish approach at someone trying to generalize a medium that literally has no boundaries.
      Sex. Drugs. Swearing. Gore. Religion. Politics. Media.
      Anime tackles topics that not even your government would.

      The anime’s in this list are just pretty or ‘trendy’

      Change the name to MY Top 30 Anime

      This is nowhere in hell the greatest anime of all time. Heck this list was pooled from reviews across the internet and this is easy to spot due to the fact the writer has not specified the corresponding genres of each anime. The reviews are very very very vague. Read carefully youll notice she merely commented on the art and general synopsis of the stories. She lacks real integrity

      Are intricate amazing complex visual organisms of their own.

      Dragon ball is merely a culmination of action and childish good vs evil nonsense, and there is no real danger or ultimatum in DBZ since every single hurdle the characters face can be wished away.

      • You know, normally I don’t like being mean to people on the Internet, but Christ you’re a complete moron

        You claim that this list is merely made to attract the trendy crowd, when LITERALLY ALL OF THE SHOWS ON YOUR LIST ARE OR WERE POPULAR AND WELL KNOWN. ALL OF THEM. Also, the list with Haibane Renmei, Kids on the Slope, Gatchaman Crowds, Gunbuster and Diebuster, Shin Sekai Yori, Hyouka, Kyousogiga, Ping Pong, Kino’s journey, The Eccentric family and Katanagatari is “trendy”? Don’t make me laugh.
        If anime was only allowed to be dark and serious, then it would have failed as a medium of entertainment and a form of art for not trying new things or looking at new subjects in different, diverse ways. Plus, plenty of those “cute and pretty anime” such as euphonium, shirobako, and hyouka, as well as generally light hearted shows like FlCl have been able to touch on rich, personal themes, create deep, likable characters, and tell touching and effective story lines better than some of your supposedly super serious ones.
        Dragon ball is one of the most influential and important anime series of all time, and it played a huge part in making anime popular in the west. Fairy tail is a cookie cutter shounen that retreads the same themes and characters that the demographic has spawned hundreds of times, only with added fanservice.

        great themes
        SAO
        Seraph
        Yes, such philisophical and important themes like ‘you can be a jerk and an egotistical brat and everything will turn out great for you, and ‘wacky wish fullfillment harem video game antics’.

        Bobduh is a guy
        You’re actually trying to say he is new to anime and you aren’t. My sides are in orbit.
        The items on this list range from psychological mecha drama to idol dramedy to space western. How is that generalizing?
        Of course the descriptions are vague. This is a top list, not a 30 series long reviewing marathon. Plus, he linked essays he wrote on each series in the list. Go read those.

        anime tackles themes that not even your government would
        I’m not even touching this one.

        Snobby? How?

        You seem like the kind of guy who would smack someone across the face if his opinion was different from yours. Go work on that.

      • So basically your whole comment is incorrect, and I don’t need to be here. But there’s one particular thing I felt the need to highlight: The idea that Bobduh made this list based on internet consensus and didn’t watch the shows.

        You can look through this blog’s archives and find Bobduh blogging about his gradual experiences watching most of these shows.

        To go in depth he has:
        An essay on Haibane Renmei
        Reactions to every episode of Gatchaman Crowds, including detailed real-time notes on the second season.
        An essay on Giant Robo.
        Weekly reactions to Sound! Euphonium.
        Two essays and somewhere around 40 weekly reactions to Hunter x Hunter.
        A Mushishi essay.
        Essays on Gunbuster and Diebuster.
        Shinsekai Yori essay.
        Idolm@ster review.
        Detailed write-ups on a Hyouka re-watch as well as, over a year earlier, an article on character design with intimate details and analysis on Hyouka (and Cowboy Bebop and Tatami Galaxy).
        Shiki Essay.
        Weekly reactions and full real-time notes on Kyousougiga.
        Full coverage of the airing of Ping Pong the Animation, culminating in (another) essay. And a review.
        Full weekly reactions to Shirobako, an essay, and a review.
        Full reactions, notes, an essay, and a review for Uchouten Kazoku.
        Full notes for both seasons of Oregairu, and an essay (and the weekly reactions).
        More stuff about Monogatari than anyone but NisioIsin has.
        Short essay on The Tatami Galaxy.
        Longer essay and full notes on Katanagatari.
        Long essay and full notes on Revolutionary Girl Utena.
        And… I don’t think I need to say anything to the accusation this guy hasn’t seen Madoka or Evangelion.

      • I’m weeping right now you actually said sword art online (one of the shittiest yet most popular anime out there) and fairy tail (the most overrated shonen anime ever made in existence). Sword art online was a fucking disappointment with only pretty art and a decent enough soundtrack for it to stand, other than that, the anime is just complete and utter garbage. Nothing is ever explained in the anime like how the headgear they use kill people. Are we just supposed to assume it fries your brain when you take it off or die in the game? It’s. never. fucking. explained. And the only character that’s bearable in the entire series was Asuna who just ended up being a stereotypical tsundere who fell in love with the bland cookie cutter protagonist. I could go on about sword up your ass online but I want to talk about fairy tail. Fairy Tail I admit was good for the first 2 and a half seasons (the tower to heaven arc oh my god it was good) and after it slowly went downhill in the edolas arc ever so slowly it has been getting worse and worse with its fanservice and major lack of character development cause ha ha tits and ass can make anything good right? And I’ve been trying to pick it back up again but with it insulting my intelligence with Natsu one hit KO battles and ass pull friendship power really gets to me. And I know it’s a shonen anime and the heroes are supposed to win all the time but that doesn’t mean it has to shove a pile of bullshit in my face and expect me to accept how it is. There are shonen anime with friendship power that do it right and don’t have the backwash of bullshit that fairy tail does. For example Hunter x Hunter as seen on this list is actually good with its nakama power. The only reason why fairy tail was as popular was because of that one bullshit arc of Bleach that made it take a complete fucking nose dive. Bleach basically went to fairy tail for an escape which was the worst thing they could’ve done because now it’s fuckery is still going on and people eat it up like they haven’t seen it before and written better.

  4. So I’m just getting back into anime but I know this list isn’t really what I’m looking for not that these are bad I wouldn’t know I’m just into the adventure/fighting type anime not sure if I’m ready to jump into the more drama aspect of anime yet out of the 30 listed I’ve only seen one of those all the way through “hunter x hunter) and it was amazing anyone willing to help with a list of animes more comparable to that?

    • You should watch Yu Yu Hakusho and read the Manga for one piece, the Anime will take you too long to finish and has fillers so just go with the Manga. While I still think hunter x hunter is beer than both of them, they’re still very good especially YU YU Hakusho.
      You should watch Ping Pong the animation as well, it’s probably one of the best crafted Anime I’ve seen. If you like the art in the anime it’s a guaranteed favourite.

    • Gurren Lagann and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Kill la Kill’s got some great action scenes, but doesn’t have the world-building of Hunter or my other 2 suggestions.

  5. Man, how do you manage to look through these comments each day? It’s like they were all written by 12 year olds. Great list btw, it’s what finally convinced me start watching katanagatari.

    • WordPress just shows me the new ones that need to be approved, so I fortunately don’t have to scan the actual comments. Glad you’ve enjoyed the list!

  6. I have to say that I love your list. I haven’t seen a few of these and it’s providing me with excellent recommendations for them. Also ignore all those idiots ranting off…”where is naruto? Bleach? Sword art online? Shit list hur Dee hurr.” They have no idea what they’re talking about and couldn’t tell quality from dgoshit. Your list is great.

  7. I’m sorry but am I the only one who has seen soul eater?? I think soul eater is the funniest anime I’ve seen and also its fun to watch and its great and possibly the best thing I’ve ever watched. P.s its on Netflix !!

    • They are all #22.

      But for real, One Piece and DBZ are extremely long and these are just anime that this blogger has seen. He’s reading One Piece now and likes it, and he doesn’t seem to like what he’s seen of DBZ.

      As for Attack on Titan, he saw the whole thing and wasn’t super into it. He posted a review on this blog.

        • That one is also #22. So much #22.

          He has Naruto on his manga list, but I’m not sure how much of it he has actually read or watched. He is generally uninterested in battle shonen adaptations (Hunter x Hunter is one of his exceptions). If there’s a shonen he’s interested in, he’s much more likely to read the manga.

  8. Hi Bobduh! I’ve been following up this list for a while, it blew my mind. I’ve only watched anime as a kid, sometimes stumbling with most famous entries like Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop. Since last year I’ve been watching some included here in your list and, WOW, I’m mesmerised! Uchouten Kazoku, Ping Pong and Mushishi are unbelievable. Thanks so much for making me watch them, haha! Also, I’ve noticed you keep this list updated, since I can’t find Baccano anymore. Do you intend to increase the entries to 50? A Top 50 would be awesome! Anyway, thanks for everything, keep’em coming (please!)

  9. Great list, thanks Bobduh! I was hunting high and low to find a list with a set of criteria such as this. I’m working through the list and loved Madoka, Shirobako, and Idolm@aster (so far, not finished this one). Not going in order but planning on watching all of them.

    Not sure if you’re yet aware, but Shirobako is now available for pre-order off Amazon. And it doesn’t rival the costs of post-secondary education, huzzah!

  10. Where the hell is DEATH NOTE?!?!?! You haven’t watched it? Seriously, man! You have got to watch it, it is one of the best story based anime. And where are Attack on Titan and Monster?

    • He read the Death Note manga and does not think it’s amazing (he liked it though). As for the anime, he doesn’t want to see it because it’s directed by the person who directed Attack on Titan and Guilty Crown.

      He didn’t hate Attack on Titan or anything, but the direction was not his cup of tea. You can find his review of Attack on Titan on this blog.

      As for Monster, he loved the manga, but he doesn’t like watching long anime. He does one day want to watch it though.

      Incidentally, if you’d click the links on the top of this entry, you’ll see that plot-based shows aren’t really his thing. That’s why Steins;Gate is relatively low here and why he hasn’t gotten around to Brotherhood yet (well that and length + not loving FMA 2003). This guy likes characters and themes. IMO Death Note’s not very good at that.

    • He loved it when it came out, and blogged a bunch about it. If he stayed liking it as much as he did, it would be at about #30 on this list, but in retrospect he’s not into it as much.

      I’m looking forward to see what’s so interesting about it.

  11. Thank you for this list, got me to watch some I had never bothered to like Madoka, Kino’s journey, Shinsekai Yori, Toradora, and Hibike! didn’t like everything but definitely a few new ones for my top 30.

    I did notice on your watch list you are missing some good ones from all your lists, some I can think of would be:
    Bakuman : do not judge by first 6 episodes they are crap compared to the rest, season 3 episodes 22-23 may have some of best romantic scenes ever though they do need the buildup of the series. This is on many top lists.
    Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken : This is a series of 25 3 min episodes won’t be top 30 but possibly a 8-9 rating
    Mahou Shoujo-tai Arusu (Tweeny Witches) : Not as good as Madoka, but it might be the only other mahou shoujo I have liked and I might even give it a place in my top 50.

    I would also note on Hunter X Hunter, the 1999 version is way way better at least at the beginning, you might want to take a look at it sometime since you rated the 2011 one so high.

  12. Shows that are in my top 30 because of this list:

    Aim for the Top! (AKA Gunbuster/Diebuster)
    Kino’s Journey
    Uchouten Kazoku
    Shirobako
    Kids on the Slope
    Kyousougiga
    Shiki
    Gatchaman Crowds
    Mawaru Penguindrum (watched it back when it was on here)
    Katanagatari
    Cowboy Bebop
    Ping Pong the Animation
    The Tatami Galaxy
    Monogatari
    Revolutionary Girl Utena

    (I also loved Steins;Gate, FLCL, Evangelion, Madoka, Oregairu and former list member TTGL; but this list wasn’t the reason I watched them. I did watch Oregairu because of seeing it on Bobduh’s 2013 list though).

    I really ought to watch Idolm@ster early so I can say I’ve seen an episode of every show in the top 30.

  13. i seen every episode of evangalion and when i watched the film i was in fact still thinking what the f*** happend as well as the ending which was confusing as f*** and i just want to know what anishaly happeng and why is shtotsca telli9ng shin-gi hes preaty much a peace of s*** i am just wft

  14. hey why you rated hunter x hunter down?!!!
    hunter must be the number one!!!
    and all animes in top tens i don’t know it
    wadaaah hell you write

    • Rated down? He gives it a 10/10.

      Maybe try using the list for recommendations? Not sure what else someone else’s top list would be good for.

  15. My top 3 has 3 anime’s that are not in this list 😛 Each their own probably..

    My top 3:
    1) Full metal alchemist brotherhood
    2) D. Grey-man
    3) Attack on Titan

    Great recommendations are also: Death note, Soul Eater and probably Parasyte the maxim

  16. In my opinion parasyte, dragon ball, & sailor moon should be on the list. If you are looking for a good horror anime give parasyte a try you won’t be disappointed. I’m going to give Shiki a try thanks to your list.

  17. Pretty astounding list overall. But OreGairu at 8 just seems extremely out of place. On a page with NGE, Shirobako, Utena, and Tatami Galaxy, I am baffled how you found anything what OreGairu did to be even close to anything on this list even.

  18. Bruh this list is garbage where’s death grips the money store kanye west my beautiful dark twisted fantasy and kendrick lamar to pimp a butterfly

  19. I really love your list. And the fact that you give quite the excellent commentary. I’ve watched a lot of shows from this list, and they are great. I agree I love shows that deal with people!! So props to this list. I really hope they’ll be more lists with your amazing and adequate commentaries. Besides not all great animes I believe are the ones that everyone knows and watches

  20. I’ve always came to your list for recommendations when I’m trying to find an anime to watch. Good list. I’ve found this show called Ergo Proxy that I think you might find interesting if you haven’t seen it already.

  21. I came back here for recommendations as I often do, and I read some of the comments. I have two things to say:
    1) Guys, this is his opinion. If you want people to agree with you, go on MAL or find another list.
    2) I advise you to be more open-minded. Try some anime that are different from the ones you watch, you might like them.

  22. The original Evangelion was good, at least the first half. Production went to **** when they ran out of money hence the horrible ending.
    The movies try to make up for it but fail in the utmost.

    I see no Gurren Laggan on this list which troubles me.
    Madoka Magica is great but certainly is not worth number 2.

    This list seems bias to slice of life, yet lacks Nichijou.
    Ironic.

    • Is this a bad attempt at a haiku?

      Nichijou sounds like the sort of dumb impersonal comedy that this blogger wouldn’t really like. But he likes the studio a lot, so maybe he’ll like it when he sees it. As for Gurren Lagann, it’s #32 in the addendum.

      Honestly, the second half of Eva is underrated. Episodes 22 and 25 used their production values really well.

      What movies are you talking about? End of Evangelion is a pretty well done work, but I’d agree that Rebuild isn’t an improvement on the original (though I still really like those movies).

    • First he has not watched Nichijou, its on his plan to watch list.
      Second Nichijou is not slice of life, it is a straight up gag comedy. I suspect he would enjoy Nichijou, it is good, however I can’t imagine it being top 30 for him or many other people.

      As to madoka magica being number 2 that is possible, it is extremely good, however at the beginning of his top 30 list he very clearly states they are NOT in order, so it could be his second favorite or just his 20th we don’t know.

      • He never says that. This list is in what could be called an order. While he doesn’t draw hard lines, Evangelion is what Bobduh sees as his favorite piece of media, and the top five are unnegotiably his top 5 favorite anime, with FLCL also a big personal favorite.

        Anyone else not seeing the lowercase ninth letter of the alphabet in these comments?

        • I am wrong I could have sworn it said that, but apparently my memory of it was totally Inaccurate. I think I must have misremembered the ” I wouldn’t stress the numbers too much.” line.

          Also yes the lowercase umm “eye” Is not appearing for me either how strange.

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  24. I did not watch all this but.. if the most famous anime like naruto one piece, fairytail, FMA etc. Are known worldwide that means they got to be in the top 10.. if the ones u listed are as good we would have known or heard abt them like the ones i mentioned above.. but am not saying the ones u put are bad n am.thinkng to start watchng some n we shall see.. thanks 🙂

    • Do watch the anime on this list, most of them (I haven’t seen them all so I can’t know) are brilliant. Also, the anime you mentioned are popular because they follow certain formulas that appeal to many. You can’t say that about the ones here. That doesn’t mean the ones you refer to are bad, I have no idea since they are way too long for me to watch. Well, except for FMA, I did enjoy that one.

    • The title’s a bit misleading. This is actually the author’s personal favorites list.

      He’s a slow watcher and isn’t a big fan of action, so Hunter x Hunter’s placement on both this list and his life kind of represents the whole genre.

      It just wouldn’t be right to load his list with shows he didn’t watch and/or didn’t like.

      He did see FMA 2003 though. He wasn’t super fond of it, but he thought it was good.

      If you’re a fan of battle shonen, it’s possible the top 10 won’t appeal to you, but for me Katanagatari is the best battle shonen-like show out there.

  25. I’ve said this before, but thank you, thank you, thank you for making this list! I just started Kino’s Journey, and it’s shaping up to be one of my favorites. Something that really made an impression is how Kino didn’t attempt to save the town at the end of episode three. That’s because she knows she can’t. She’s being realistic. And generally, it’s fascinating how she doesn’t interfere with the nations she visits, she observes and sometimes affects some people a bit. I also finished Toradora! I’m not really one for romance, but I enjoyed it, it was quite well-made. It did have its flaws and cringeworthy moments throughout, but I liked it overall.

  26. LOL OH MY GOD…100% of these animes are garbage…I have completed over 2300 anime SERIES and literally THOUSANDS of series and have watched and stopped over 500 series….these are nothing except garbage…please get better taste….
    want romance? Zero no Tsukiama
    want action?: Heavy Object, Dimension W and Zero no Tsukiama
    want a really good anime thats all around?: Code Geass, Trinity Seven, The Seven Deadly Sins, etc…
    anime with no action?:Clannad, Dagashi Kashi

  27. why don’t you just believe in the song in your heart and put symphogear as #1

  28. It’s unfortunate that all these other people think your list is invalid just because they personally haven’t seen them, or like them. They don’t understand that this is your PERSONAL list of faves, not the list of mainstream shows they expect. I personally agree with your list. These people’s comments are making me cringe……

  29. Where is the top anime of Winter 2016: Active Raid?! I’ll hang up and listen.

  30. Hi!
    So after reading through the blog and cross referencing each of OP’s selections (albeit, with Google), when I finally reached the end I went too disappointed.

    I looked into this post knowing it was subjective. I especially appreciated the rather personal insight that OP decided to provide to reinforce their selections.

    I’m not suggesting everyone should agree with OP. I do personally comend Op for offering their opinions, and effort up so publicly.

    If I must be honest; I fished through the whole blog for something that would better cater to my tastes. And then after, I considered the possibility of helpful or contributing comments… Which proved to be a ridiculous notion.

    Now granted I’m a chick; so perhaps a bit of girly bull shit is leaking throug; but what good is complaining about someone else’s opinion going to do?

    “The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie–deliberate, contrived and dishonest–but the myth–persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
    [Commencement Address at Yale University, June 11 1962]”
    ― John F. Kennedy

    “There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.”
    ― Hippocrates

    “For in the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man. Besides, the modern observations deprive all former writers of any authority, since if they had seen what we see, they would have judged as we judge.”
    ― Galileo Galilei, Frammenti e lettere

    “You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.”
    ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

    ^^^^^^^ here’s some food for thought to all hatters; these are quotes that have been around a looooooooong time. Some before my great grandparents were around.
    Honestly, if you didn’t like it, you went and wasted MORE time on commenting? It’s actually funny to think about.

    Anyhow I wanted to drop OP some props. I’m not a dyke, but totally way more interested in women then I am with men, (despite being in a 10 year relationship with a great guy… who hates anime passionately).
    So I really identified with Revolutionary Girl Utena.
    At first I thought it cliche: with the roses and the same clips of the stairs and magical clothing scenes every episode—> like clockwork!!!! I started skipping that shit. But I found some of the other little things a lot more entertaining.
    Either way, I would never have known of it had I not read on it. So thank you.

    My next venture may be kids on the block. I’ve read other good things on that too. And for the hell of it I’m going to look into the top. 5 of this list regardless of what I think on them.

    Good luck on future posts OP!

    • Kids on the Slope is a lot of fun! I recommend watching it after Samurai Champloo (which I kinda wish I had watched after Cowboy Bebop instead of before).

      As for the rest of the top 5, I’d say Tatami, Madoka, and Katanagatari are all very polished shows. They go after their themes very hard while being fun throughout.

      #1 is a whole different animal, but it’s like Utena in a lot of ways, just more grounded. And the fight scenes get better instead of worse.

  31. Hmm. Comments on a simple list are harsh. Opinions are like a$$holes….

    For influential pieces with historical value: Doraemon. 1,787 episodes…. hand drawn for artistic value and is actually awarded the best anime of all time, since it IS Japan’s official “anime ambassador.”

    For modern western influence: Dragonball and Sailor moon. Both aired in the U.S. in the mid 90’s to revolutionize the industry towards shows like One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, etc.

    In my humble opinion, a good show is one that leaves you wanting to make a post about it on a blog or a website so others can enjoy it. After all, these shows get their true value by purveying a story to be enjoyed by others.

    One Piece: amaze balls
    Mushishi: amaze balls
    Death Note: amaze balls
    Code Geass: amaze balls
    Sailor moon: amaze balls
    Evangelion: amaze balls
    Hunter x Hunter: amaze balls
    Monster: amaze balls

    And even the “bad” ones? Saving it for a dry spell of good ones.

    Let’s get along, shall we?

  32. Where’s Death Note? 😉

    LOL jk. TBH I love this list – you named so many of my favourites that I just had to go and watch the ones on the list that I hadn’t seen yet… and now I have more favourites. You have a gift for expressing what it is about these shows that make them special… please keep writing!

    (But srsly where’s my Code Geass at? Mumbles something about shit taste :p )

  33. Heeey, back here again. I don’t know if you have watched it, I recently completed a show called Nichijou. As the title indicates, it’s comedy based on real everyday life situations. The animation is great, and I love the humour. It also has these moments of calm and actual seriousness that really set it apart. I personally loved it, and you could check it out if you have time to spare. 🙂

  34. Damn, there’s a lot of hate in this comments section. Like many others, I can’t say I enjoyed every anime in this list, however, Ping Pong: The Animation quite honestly changed my life and helped me survive a very very dark time. Ping Pong was one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever encountered, and I owe Bobduh and his site a lot of gratitude for his efforts in sincerely trying to compile a list of essential anime, and for giving thoughtful write ups and thematic guides to specific series.

    As someone not particularly imbedded in the anime “scene” I probably never would have encountered Ping Pong as a result of my own exploration. I can take that experience— or four experiences if you count the # of times I re-watched it— and with that I’ll say it was worth sitting through the bad ones recommended by Bobduh. If you’re not a fan of any of the series on this list, perhaps you’d enjoy one of the many other anime/review blogs that exist, someone whose taste you find more agreeable.

    That’s all — over and out!

  35. Thanks so much for this list, I got turned on to Katanagatari and Uchouten Kazoku because of it and I can’t stress how much I got out of those shows. I don’t understand the love for Hunter x Hunter though, I liked how much depth it gave to even minor characters and the wide range of themes it tackled but it was impossible for me to overlook glaring flaws in pacing, tonal congruence, over-exposition, plain old corny dialogue/writing, and heavy handed use of its characters as plot set pieces (I also hated the character designs but I understand that’s super subjective).

  36. This guy is not Otaku. He doesn’t understand anime. He is an avid fan of shojobeat. Do not take this list as credible in the least unless you are a 85 year old grandma. The shows are fine but not deserving of the top 30. Flcl and no naruto. Inuyasha, hellsing, yu yu hakusho. Tenjho tenge. No offense but you suck for making this list

    • If only you had posted this comment before, but alas it is too late. I’ve already watched all these shows. And they’re…. dare I say it… some of the best things I’ve seen!

      I’m a lost cause, my brother. Lost in the shoujo beat dregs of Giant Robo, Steins;Gate, and Cowboy Bebop. Never again will I be able to appreciate true manliness like Inuyasha. I am tainted…. TAINTED!

      Why, brother?? WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG TO POST THIS COMMENT? Think of the lives you would have saved if you had been faster! Think of all the people you let down!!! No offense but you suck for that.

  37. Ooh, this is a really nice list! I feel like so many top anime lists are less “what shows I think are the best and enjoy the most” and more “what I think the louder voices of the community have decided is the best”, which makes every list feel the same. Yours is clearly articulated, personal, and unique, with a wide variety of intriguing choices and some I haven’t seen before. Looks like I have some new stuff to check out. Thanks!

  38. Thanks so much for this list – I read the intro and thought “ok, that sounds like a lot like what I look for in shows”, and scrolling through I found that your taste seemed to match mine almost exactly. So far all of the shows that your list has led me to have been great, so again, thanks!

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