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. You would probably like Beck: Mongolian Chop Sqaud – if you’ve watched it, I can’t possibly understand why it’s not on your list.

  2. Yes. I can fully agree with this list. I would say that you chose anime that definitely left an impact on you. Neon Genesis Evangelion is my favorite anime of all time but the Tatami Galaxy is up there too. I’m so glad you included that anime, which I consider a diamond in the rough. I look forward to more of your posts.

    • Bleach,Deathnote,Claymore,YuYu hakusho,inuyasha,Fullmetal alchemist,Trigun, Outlaw Star, Big O, Gundam Wing, Naruto, Air gear, History strongest fighter, Baki the Grappler, Berserk, x tv, ect. ect. because i could go on…

  3. I believe One Piece should be on here. you never know what’s going to happen and sometimes it really gets emotional.

  4. You can fight all you wasn’t but how is one piece not one of the best. Isn’t anime supposed to be mostly for KIDS. I know I’m an 11 year old but I still believe that One Piece is one of the best why are the best animes filled with violence

    • First of all One Piece is good, but predictable and not close to the value these shows offer. Regardless what I wanted to say is that anime is for teens. Just look at the level of PG material. Elfen Lied, Hellsing, etc.

      • Don’t be stupid one piece gets more unpredictable the further you go on and can be enjoyed by all ages and is easily in my top 5 anime

    • You have got to be kidding me. Even as a younger teen I can still understand that anime is not mostly for MY AGE. Anime has a wide variety for every age. I’m guessing you haven’t watched much anime yet because there are a lot of anime series way greater than One Piece that are lesser known.

      • no greater than one piece in my opinion (so far), I prefer seinen anime, mushi-shi, FLCL, baccano bebop in that list is my favourite hyouka is very good, gurren lagan just good and etc etc or i can add mindfucking anime tehnolyze, ghost in the shell, serial experiment lain that far greater than evangelion in 1st list ( in my opinion ) and many more that are not on that list
        BUT ONE PIECE is exceptional shounen anime
        the best seinen anime i have ever seen is ghost in the shell in my opinion but i put one piece above it for such structural world and amazing story telling, or even where the idea come from ( such as from brocken spectre phenomenon, enthropy rubberband, etc ), and arghhh too much to describe ONE PIECE !!!

    • I actually think one piece is amazing and pretty funny. It’s a shame it wasn’t added in the list.
      And for most people who claim that “it’s a show for kids” this is coming from a 17 year old ^^

  5. You get a lot of “have you seen?” comments, sorry Im going to add another 🙂 You’ve seen a lot more than me, that’s for sure, but i can’t help but note the lack of any mention of Ghost in the Shell on your site… I can’t guarantee it would be up your alley, but I think it has been consistently brilliant in all its incarnations.

    • Personally,i believed the blogger made a good list here.It is a list of shows that depic character dev. along the story.One piece,naruto,fairly tail etc. Are good,but if u ask me,i prefer anime that make good impact to its audience,teach value and connect to them or make it relatable.

  6. for anyone that likes good animes here are some.. death note, code geass, hellsing ultimate, sword art online, log horizon, no game no life…. i think that death note and code geass should definitly be in this… but i still respect the list

    • Complete agreement. Personally, I really feel that Berserk, Ergo Proxy, Full-Metal Alchemist or Eden of the East should have been on here. Especially if Gurren Lagann can make it on this list. Thanks for your time anyway, but I think your list is far too romance-centric at the expense of deeper plots.

      • I think you are completely off-base as he mentions Death Note, which many would say is not romance-centric whatsoever. Light Yagami does whatever it takes to achieve his goal and is 100% focused on and will use anyone to achieve it. Love means nothing to him.

  7. Bro !!! how about CLANNAD AFTER STORY, its like one of the best animes out there……….

  8. “Monster”- psychological thriller with great story, unforgettable characters, atmospheric music and animation. For some unknown reason “Monster” rarely appears in tops, but, no doubt, its best anime i’ve ever seen. Watch it.

  9. Just asking… Where’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood?! I couldn’t live without that anime… T^T

  10. You’ve been getting a lot of questions (some of them loaded) about whether the philosophy discussed by the characters in NGE is “wrong” or not. Do you actually agree with the characters’ philosophy, or do you feel the point is that they spend time searching for answers at all and not whether those answers are “wrong?”

  11. i find it hilarious that people are trying to make you say good things about anime like One Piece and Death Note. All of these shows on this list are leagues better than any “teen” anime, like Naruto or Attack on Titan. You can tell that they’ve never really seen or understood these great series.

  12. Thanks very much for this. I’ve seen 20 out of the 30 and mostly liked them (favorites being Hyouka, Ping Pong, Monogatari, Utena, Kits on the Slope, and FLCL). I will now definitely try Katanagatari and Oregairu. My biggest complaint would be that although I loved watching Madoka Magica the first time, I would never have it that high on the list since I don’t think the characters really hold up. It does have a great plot and super interesting take on the magical girl genre.
    Let me give a few suggestions since I think we share tastes. Princess Tutu–great characters and romance and give it about 8 episodes. Space Brothers–one of the greatest male characters of all time. Mononoke–mostly about the visuals, just really unique. Also since you like Ping Pong, there’s some great sports anime that are really all about character. Maybe you’re seen them already, but Hikaru No Go, Chihayafuru, and Cross Game all have great character development and interaction (and also romance of a sort in the last two).

  13. wtf..where is naruto….. dragonballz..onepiece …. bleach…fairy tail…..blue exorcist…….attack on titan….etc.do u think these anime are for kids?????wtf now people?where in the earth is any anime for grown ups…the grown ups doesnt watch anime….anyway these anime i mentioned are the bestttt…:!!!!!

    • Lol, just because it’s all you’ve seen, doesn’t mean it’s good. That’s like saying Britney Spears is better than Muse.

      I personally don’t agree with half the stuff on this list, because for starters Steins;Gate should be at least in the top 5, and seeing it be called ‘Slice of Life’ is just hilarious.

      But yeah, kid, go watch some actual good stuff. Anything that has over 24 episodes usually means it’s mediocre at best, because plot holes is the name of the game.

  14. This is a pretty interesting list, and I’ve definitely added a bunch of these to my to-watch list. (I never did finish Oregairu for whatever reason, and Revolutionary Girl Utena in particular sounds right up my alley.) Thanks!

    My personal favourite series ever – anime or not – is Kara no Kyoukai. Easily the best thing Kinoko Nasu has done (or ever will), it’s an examination of the intersection between sin, choice and redemption. And also a really kickin’ urban fantasy.

  15. where the hell are the kuroko no basket, one pice, attack on titan, fairy tail, bleach, naruto or any of those?

  16. I was agreeing and reflecting on this list, anxiously awaiting to see if Evangelion would be #1 as it deserves –it’s cultural relevance relative to anime cannot be ever overstated, ever– I almost had a full stop and hear attack when I saw Madoka at #2, why? Because I consider it to be one of the worst animes I’ve ever seen.

    It’s not clever, it’s not complex, nor entertaining. The plot is mediocre, the music is forgettable, and the characters… FFS! The characters! Bunch of alogical and uninspiring drones! How can you display such good and bad taste in anime at the same time?

    Sorry, this post reads angrier than it should but I’m still in shock… seriously, Madoka? I would take Naruto or DBZ over Madoka… and I hate those teenager animes!

    • Gah,those anime you ppl suggest are “generic”.The heck it the value in those shows.They are made to make promotion ppl,entertain u.But the list here has more to offer.Character development.Plot wise story.

      I dont even like naruto,cause its like pokemon,its on air just for promotion ppl.

  17. Watch Attack on Titan, Blue Exorcist, Hetalia, Nagi no Asukara, and Brynhildr in the Darkness in that order cus those are my favorites. Or watch ones of those you havent seen yet.

  18. This is bullshit death note,naruto,one piece,fairy tale and DBZ all should be up there but you put some bullshit ass anime wtf is wrong with do you even watch anime!

  19. I really think death note and attack on Titan should be on here. And most definitely the king of anime Dragon Ball

  20. where is Ergo proxy, shigurui, Samurai Champloo,Monster, Berserk, Full metal alchemist, hajime no ippo, Great Teacher Onizuka, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja scroll, Slam dunk, Yu Yu Hakusho…i think you want change it a little the typical list, but maintaining a principal axis. I congratulate you for; Steins gate, mushishi, cowboy bebop,hunter x, kids on the slope… but oregairu and toradora??? really the best? i don’t think so… the others i didn’t watched already but i’ll. Nice blog

  21. Absolutely the best explanation of someone’s favorite anime shows I will probably ever see period. Bravo. That was stupendous.

  22. Your list was incredibly helpful! Lots of shows I dismissed out of hand because of genre preference or lack of time. While I may not agree entirely with the order they were presented, these are definitely some of the most thought-provoking shows I have seen as well.

    If you have not seen them, I would highly recommend Haibane Renmei, Kaiba, NANA,, and Durarara. I believe they fit with the items of your list.

    [spoilers] Haibane Renmei is a supernatural slice of life about an isolated group of girls living apart from society. They are reborn in that house, given a second chance after life-changing events they can no longer recall. It is by far the most respectful and nuanced exploration of depression and suicide I’ve seen in this medium. Characters have a lighthearted, introspective touch, and the world-building that surrounds this village is colorful and engaging.

    Kaiba is perhaps more a conceptual work, and the art can throw off audiences. The premise is science fiction, set in a time when people trade their character qualities for financial benefits. The protagonist begins the series having sold everything about himself, including memory and identity, and tries to find out if there is anything left. There are vignettes of parents selling off their children’s talents at art and music, the subdued rebellions against this absurd system, and an overall plot involving a world-eating entity attracted to this exchange. Very tragic and strange.

    NANA is a slice-of-life josei romance involving two girls, coincidentally both named Nana, who arrive in a city together and must deal with a variety of life choices, changes, growing up, and very personal sacrifices. The intimate core friendship between the two is at the heart of this show, with the very blatant acknowledgement that if either had been interested, they would have been the loves of each other’s lives. Bittersweet and incredibly moving.

    Durarara is perhaps the most commercial of the three, being the spiritual sequel to Baccano, but I do feel that despite the token outrageous characters, this show does a better job of dealing with who people are at their core. [/spoilers]

    Anywho, great list, and I’ll be checking out some things here that I haven’t seen before!

  23. Your list was incredibly helpful! Lots of shows I dismissed out of hand because of genre preference or lack of time. While I may not agree entirely with the order they were presented, these are definitely some of the most thought-provoking shows I have seen as well.

    If you have not seen them, I would highly recommend Haibane Renmei, Kaiba, NANA,, and Durarara. I believe they fit with the items of your list.

    [spoilers] Haibane Renmei is a supernatural slice of life about an isolated group of girls living apart from society. They are reborn in that house, given a second chance after life-changing events they can no longer recall. It is by far the most respectful and nuanced exploration of depression and suicide I’ve seen in this medium. Characters have a lighthearted, introspective touch, and the world-building that surrounds this village is colorful and engaging.

    Kaiba is perhaps more a conceptual work, and the art can throw off audiences. The premise is science fiction, set in a time when people trade their character qualities for financial benefits. The protagonist begins the series having sold everything about himself, including memory and identity, and tries to find out if there is anything left. There are vignettes of parents selling off their children’s talents at art and music, the subdued rebellions against this absurd system, and an overall plot involving a world-eating entity attracted to this exchange. Very tragic and strange.

    NANA is a slice-of-life josei romance involving two girls, coincidentally both named Nana, who arrive in a city together and must deal with a variety of life choices, changes, growing up, and very personal sacrifices. The intimate core friendship between the two is at the heart of this show, with the very blatant acknowledgement that if either had been interested, they would have been the loves of each other’s lives. Bittersweet and incredibly moving.

    Durarara is perhaps the most commercial of the three, being the spiritual sequel to Baccano, but I do feel that despite the token outrageous characters, this show does a better job of dealing with who people are at their core. [/spoilers]

    Anywho, great list, and I’ll be checking out some things here that I haven’t seen before!

  24. I have only started watching anime recently , but I can’t but wonder why isn’t future diary included i think it’s very very good.

  25. I recommend Mirai Nikki (Eng: “Future Diary”). The premise is pretty comparable to a horror-genre Eden of the East, but the premise is secondary to the dynamic between the two protagonists: a cowardly opportunist and a horrifying stalker girl who desperately loves him for no reason. The male is thrust into circumstances in which many powerful people are trying to kill him, and only the girl is capable or willing enough to protect him. Throughout the series the show examines what love is, as he struggles with whether he should love her because she protects him, or coldly use her from a distance because she’s crazy, and ultimately, whether or not there’s a difference between the two.

    I mention it because of your professed interest in romcoms. I think Mirai Nikki is a pretty honest evaluation of anime-esque romance relationships and whether or not they can truly be viewed as functional or reciprocal. There are other well and darkly explored themes, like guilt, sacrifice, and making choices at the expense of others, making what’s otherwise not an altogether unique (i.e. top-30-worthy) story into something really worthy as a vantage from which to critique a genre of unrealistic romance.

    Thanks for your list. Based on the titles I recognize, I believe you and I have similar tastes, so I’ll be sure to investigate the others.

  26. All I gotta say is I love the list. And I would recommend Kekkaishi It has an interesting story with romance/adventure and the meaning of being a human to another person. It’s all together a well balanced anime

  27. Yeah fine at times Naruto is a little childish and the fillers make me want to break my computer but it still deserves to go on this list same with fairy-tail, one piece and bleach. But i would recommend HUNTER X HUNTER because it focuses on a smaller amount of characters unlike many other anime also the fillers aren’t very long but keeping it like this is very effective as it leaves us with more questions then we started of with…

    but i will be watching some of the anime on this list. 😀

  28. I honestly think that attack on titan is one of the best anime that i ever watch in my life. I just love the plot and horror in it. I think it should be at least on top ten

  29. Golden Boy
    GTO
    Death note
    Code geas
    Slam dunk (continue in manga)
    Gintama
    BECK
    Detroit Metal City

  30. Hunter X Hunter should have been the 2nd or 3rd spot forsure, I never seen an anime like HXH It’s AMAZING! And don’t get me wrong I love your list I seen every show on the list but Drandon Ball Z hands down should have been in the #1 spot. I also think shows like Death Note, Fairy Tail, Sword Art Online, Attack On Titan, D- Gray Man, & of coarse Naruto should have made it as well… But I can’t be mad at your list though Bc I enjoyed all of them!

    I’m keep seeing why isn’t One Piece on the list, well to me One Piece is good but not great. All they do is travel island to island to fight repeatedly and that can be boring it’s not toooo exciting. But If you haven’t seen Hunter X Hunter I recommend you watch it! It’s the dopest anime in the world filled with excitement Gon & Kilua are the best duo team in the universe haha my opinion (:

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