Set against a backdrop of King Cnut the Great’s rise to power, the story follows teenage warrior Thorfinn as he attempts to avenge the death of his father. They were on their way to England together when they were attacked by a man named Askeladd, the leader of a small but formidable band of Vikings. In the hope of one day challenging him to a duel, Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s group. In Togashi’s world, Hunters are people who make a living tracking down dangerous villains, rare animals, legendary treasures, and all manner of hard-to-find things. Gon’s father Ging Freecss is a Double Star Ruins Hunter, and the youngster has his work cut out for him if he’s going to live up to his dad’s reputation. Most of the anime on this list are suitable for older audiences due to their complex themes and sometimes intense scenes.
FMAB narrates the tale of the Elric brothers, who attempt to resurrect their mother and lose their bodies in the process. They wish to revert to their former selves by finding the philosopher’s stone. For the unacquainted, Attack on Titan is the story of humanity holed up inside enormous walls to keep off man-eating Titans. However, the story transforms into a complex story tackling numerous philosophical themes.
Honourable Mention: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Each genre offers unique storytelling techniques and thematic explorations, enriching your overall anime experience. This slow-burning, highly dramatic series portrays plenty of emotional depth through fully fleshed-out characters. The story revolves around a group of friends who accidentally discover a method of time travel, leading to unforeseen consequences. The set-up makes for some great comedy, but this is an anime with something for everyone. The battles are both imaginative and intense, especially after the alien invader Boros arrives on the scene (spoiler alert — he survives Saitama’s punch).
The truth, however, is that he needs all the help he can get — he’s on the run from the Red Dragon Syndicate, his former employers. Hajime Isayama’s manga series “Attack on Titan” became a huge hit in Japan after debuting in 2009, and the anime adaptation would go on to become a global phenomenon. It takes place in a world where humanity has been reduced to living inside walled cities to stay safe from the Titans, monstrous humanoid beasts with a penchant for destruction and a taste movie quiz for human flesh. “The idea of being isolated within the wall originated with manga creator Hajime Isayama, who was inspired by Japanese culture,” Wit Studio president George Wada told the Anime News Network.
Based on the manga series of the same name by Tatsuya Endo, “Spy x Family” took the anime world by storm when it debuted in 2022, scoring rave reviews and quickly amassing a passionate fanbase. The show follows a fake family who don’t know the truth about each other but grow close nonetheless. It all begins when a spy who goes by the name Twilight disguises himself as a psychiatrist named Loid Forger in order to investigate an inscrutable politician named Donovan Desmond. As part of his cover, he drafts in a woman named Yor to act as his wife and an orphan girl named Anya, who is supposed to be their daughter. What Loid doesn’t know is that Yor is actually a deadly assassin called Thorn Princess and Anya has telepathic powers. Hunter x Hunter is a series that stands out for its complex characters, moral dilemmas, and intricate plot.
Well, the first thing to note is that it’s very much a medium and an artform instead of a genre. Beyond the action series like “Dragon Ball Z” that often defines anime’s perception among non-viewers, shows can range from dark, psychological dramas to zany situational comedies. The best anime are the ones that use the freedom of the animation format to create something vividly imaginative and fresh, something that could never be done in live-action. And while almost every well-regarded anime often feels highly specific to Japan’s culture, the greatest possess a universal relatability that transcends subtitles or cultural boundaries.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
The story begins when Lucy escapes from the government facility she’s being housed in, brutally killing many of her captors in the process. She’s injured during the escape, however, and she develops a split personality as a result. While Lucy has been hardened by the inhumane experimentation she was subjected to behind closed doors, her second personality (Nyu) is sweet and innocent. It’s this side of her that Kouta and Yuka — the sympathetic locals who give her shelter — get to know.
The series revolves around a fictional anime world of Shinobi, where Naruto Uzumaki learns to become a ninja master with the help of his friends and other masters. The first thing you will notice about Naruto is how different he looks from the rest of his classmates, and I don’t just mean the yellow hair. He has some very distinct markings, which are quickly revealed because a powerful demon is sealed within him. Naruto became a Jinchuriki, a human sacrifice, the day he was born to save the world from the Nine-Tails. Time travel isn’t the easiest phenomenon to tackle, but this anime series manages to capture it perfectly. Sure, the power sounds great in theory, but can be confusing, and painful, to deal with, especially if you’re trying to save someone you care about.
MyAnimeList has long compiled user ratings to determine which anime is “objectively” the best. The craze for Shonen and anime, in general, started with the Dragon Ball series for many. As the franchise continued to expand, its popularity began to skyrocket around the world, resulting in it becoming a sensation. Thus, whenever we talk about the all-time great anime, Dragon Ball always has a place, especially for its influence on shonen titles. As a part of Shonen, Bleach has an incredible cast of characters and a distinctive world-building that will instantly win you over. The anime’s enthralling soundtracks elevate the battles to a greater level and make you glued to the screens.
Boku no Hero Academia 3rd Season
Edward loses an arm and a leg, while Al’s entire body is gone, leaving his soul trapped in a suit of armor. They’re searching for the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary item that could restore them, but the journey drags them into a web of government secrets, war, and tough moral choices. Radically altering Light, a top student who begins to use mysterious notebook to seek vengeance by removing criminals from the world, is the drive of Death Note. How Light and detective L both win and lose and the way they view justice and morality, make this show very exciting.
In a world where 80% of people have superpowers called “Quirks”, young Izuku Midoriya was unfortunately born Quirkless. However, a chance encounter with the world’s greatest hero All Might endows Izuku with incredible abilities. Also known in the US as Fighting Spirit, Hajime no Ippo is a thrilling adaptation of an incredibly long-running manga series.
At Fortress of Solitude and Sneaker Fortress, he blends tech smarts with pop culture cool to keep things fresh and entertaining. Set after the Second Impact, in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the world must fight back against beings who invade Tokyo-3. The story focuses on Shinji Ikari, a boy chosen to pilot Evangelion Unit-0. For those who have been living under a rock, the series features extraordinary characters with superhuman abilities, like Goku and Vegeta, who engage in epic clashes that push the boundaries of power and imagination. The show delivered on the manga’s amazing writing and character development and gave the community the best dog in anime. The series, based on the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi, is often cited as one of the most beloved anime of the past few decades.