Favorite Anime Series - Ranked
by juliancgeorge | created - 12 Dec 2020 | updated - 1 month ago | PublicRanking all the anime series I've watched. Ranking indicates personal preference, number/star rating indicates my opinion of objective quality.
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1. Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.
Stars: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Steve Blum
Votes: 138,948
10/10 - the only perfect anime series. the GOAT.
2. Toradora! (2008–2009)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Toradora tells the tale of Ryuji (dragon) and Taiga (tiger) helping each other confess to their crushes.
Stars: Rie Kugimiya, Junji Majima, Yui Horie, Hirofumi Nojima
Votes: 18,855
9.5/10 - i felt these characters' emotions like they were my own. no exaggeration. no other piece of media has had me invested in characters and immersed into their lives to such an extent
3. Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea (2013–2014)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Long ago, humanity lived in the sea, but some humans longed to go to land and eventually left the sea behind.
Stars: Natsuki Hanae, Mikako Komatsu, Bryce Papenbrook, Max Mittelman
Votes: 1,407
8.5/10
4. Nichijou: My Ordinary Life (2011)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy
Follow the adventures of three ordinary girls as they learn their most important lessons the hard way. Meanwhile, a pocket-sized professor makes life difficult for a robot who just wants to be normal.
Stars: Shizuka Furuya, Hiromi Konno, Mariko Honda, Minoru Shiraishi
Votes: 3,513
9/10
5. Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Gon Freecss aspires to become a Hunter, an exceptional being capable of greatness. With his friends and his potential, he seeks out his father, who left him when he was younger.
Stars: Issei Futamata, Megumi Han, Cristina Valenzuela, Mariya Ise
Votes: 134,898
9/10
6. Samurai Champloo (2004–2005)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Fuu, a waitress who works in a teahouse, rescues two master swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, from their execution to help her find the "samurai who smells of sunflowers."
Stars: Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Ayako Kawasumi, Steve Blum
Votes: 55,399
9/10
7. FLCL (2000–2001)
TV-14 | 151 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Mysterious things start happening when 12-year-old Naota meets a strange woman on a Vespa wielding a big guitar.
Stars: Jun Mizuki, Mayumi Shintani, Izumi Kasagi, Suzuki Matsuo
Votes: 19,722
9/10
8. Clannad: After Story (2008–2009)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A sequel to the anime based on the recently concluded Key Clannad franchise. After Story is a new path that opens in the original visual novel after all other options have been traversed.
Stars: Yûichi Nakamura, David Matranga, Luci Christian, Mai Nakahara
Votes: 12,348
8/10 - the quality of clannad (both the original and After Story) is frustratingly inconsistent, but out of nowhere there will just be life-changingly good episodes. if every episode was as good at eps. 6 and 18, this would be my favorite, and episode 18 in particular is definitely in my top 5 anime episodes of all time
9. Attack on Titan (2013–2023)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
After his hometown is destroyed and is traumatized, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction.
Stars: Jessie James Grelle, Bryce Papenbrook, Trina Nishimura, Yûki Kaji
Votes: 511,654
8.5/10
10. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009–2010)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two brothers search for a Philosopher's Stone after an attempt to revive their deceased mother goes awry and leaves them in damaged physical forms.
Stars: Kent Williams, Iemasa Kayumi, Matthew Leonhart, Vic Mignogna
Votes: 197,526
9/10 - perfect for the first 3 seasons
11. Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
TV-14 | 316 min | Animation, Drama, Horror
Strange things start happening when a withdrawn girl named Lain becomes obsessed with an interconnected virtual realm known as "The Wired".
Stars: Kaori Shimizu, Bridget Hoffman, Dan Lorge, Randy McPherson
Votes: 17,210
9/10
12. Sonny Boy (2021)
TV-14 | Animation, Drama, Mystery
A group of students on summer vacation find themselves transported to another dimension and granted superpowers to survive there.
Stars: Aoi Yûki, Christopher Wehkamp, Siddhartha Minhas, Kristen McGuire
Votes: 1,879
8.5/10
13. Death Note (2006–2007)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Crime, Drama
An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.
Stars: Mamoru Miyano, Brad Swaile, Vincent Tong, Ryô Naitô
Votes: 378,648
8.5/10
14. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A teenage boy finds himself recruited as a member of an elite team of pilots by his father.
Stars: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Kotono Mitsuishi, Spike Spencer
Votes: 85,302
9/10
15. Chainsaw Man (2022)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Following a betrayal, a young man left for dead is reborn as a powerful devil-human hybrid after merging with his pet devil and is soon enlisted into an organization dedicated to hunting devils.
Stars: Kikunosuke Toya, Ryan Colt Levy, Tomori Kusunoki, Shogo Sakata
Votes: 54,952
8.5/10
16. To Your Eternity (2021– )
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
A lonely boy wandering the Arctic regions of North America meets a wolf, and the two become fast friends, depending on each other to survive the harsh environment. But the boy has a history, and the wolf is more than meets the eye as well.
Stars: Jacob Hopkins, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Reiji Kawashima, Kenjirô Tsuda
Votes: 9,752
8.5/10
17. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (I) (2020)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A group of strangers come together to work on creating the greatest anime series ever.
Stars: Sairi Itô, Mutsumi Tamura, Misato Matsuoka, Monica Rial
Votes: 1,983
9/10 - maasaki yuasa's best
18. Code Geass (2006–2008)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Drama
After being given a mysterious power to control others, an outcast prince becomes the masked leader of the rebellion against an all-powerful empire.
Stars: Jun Fukuyama, Takahiro Sakurai, Johnny Yong Bosch, Yukana
Votes: 80,229
7.5/10
19. Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019–2023)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Romance
The proudly privileged top two students of an elite school each makes it their mission to be the first to extract a confession of love from the other.
Stars: Aaron Dismuke, Aoi Koga, Makoto Furukawa, Konomi Kohara
Votes: 20,128
8.5/10
20. Mushi-Shi (2005–2014)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Ginko is an expert travelling around to investigate a primeval life-form, the "Mushi," and helping people with Mushi-related supernatural problems.
Stars: Yûto Nakano, Travis Willingham, Kôjun Itô, Jennifer Seman
Votes: 14,597
8.5/10 - so beautiful and relaxing
21. Azumanga Daioh: The Animation (2002)
TV-PG | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
A humorous and highly unpredictable animated series following a group of high school girls and their teachers.
Stars: Tomoko Kaneda, Yuki Matsuoka, Chieko Higuchi, Rie Tanaka
Votes: 3,472
8/10
22. Beastars (2019– )
TV-MA | 23 min | Animation, Crime, Drama
In a world of anthropomorphic animals, a reclusive wolf's complicated relationship with a kindly rabbit is tested by a classmate's murder, a charismatic deer's influence, and his own burgeoning predatory instincts.
Stars: Chikahiro Kobayashi, Jonah Scott, Lara Jill Miller, Griffin Puatu
Votes: 12,367
8/10
23. Steins;Gate (2011–2015)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.
Stars: Mamoru Miyano, Asami Imai, Kana Hanazawa, Ashly Burch
Votes: 73,465
8/10
24. Great Teacher Onizuka (1999–2000)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
About Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old ex-gangster member and a virgin. He has one ambition that no one ever expected from him. His sole life purpose is to become the greatest high school teacher ever.
Stars: Steve Blum, Kirk Thornton, Jun'ichi Suwabe, Wataru Takagi
Votes: 11,286
8/10
25. Bocchi the Rock! (2022)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Music
Hitori "Bocchi-chan" Goto is a lonely high school girl whose heart lies in her guitar; she meets Nijika Ijichi and joins "Kessoku Band." Inspired by legendary artist Tupac Shakur, Bocchi strives to become the greatest guitarist on earth.
Stars: Yoshino Aoyama, Sayumi Suzushiro, Saku Mizuno, Ikumi Hasegawa
Votes: 4,529
8/10
26. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020– )
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A boy swallows a cursed talisman - the finger of a demon - and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman's school to be able to locate the demon's other body parts and thus exorcise himself.
Stars: Junya Enoki, Yuma Uchida, Yûichi Nakamura, Adam McArthur
Votes: 114,648
8/10
27. 86 (2021–2022)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Drama
The Republic of San Magnolia is at war with its neighboring country, the Empire of Giad. Both sides use unmanned drones to conduct a "war without casualties". The story follows Lena as she commands a squad of drones called the 86.
Stars: Suzie Yeung, Billy Kametz, Maureen Price, Shoya Chiba
Votes: 7,683
8/10
28. Haikyu!! (2014–2020)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Determined to be like the volleyball championship's star player nicknamed "the small giant", Shoyo joins his school's volleyball club.
Stars: Ayumu Murase, Kaito Ishikawa, Yu Hayashi, Satoshi Hino
Votes: 35,475
8/10
29. Odd Taxi (2021)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Crime
In a city which should be familiar, there is the feeling of something a little different.
Stars: Natsuki Hanae, Mike McFarland, Darius Marquis Johnson, Kenji Hamada
Votes: 5,745
7.5/10
30. One Punch Man (2015– )
TV-PG | 24 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
The story of Saitama, a hero that does it just for fun & can defeat his enemies with a single punch.
Stars: Makoto Furukawa, Kaito Ishikawa, Max Mittelman, Zach Aguilar
Votes: 185,851
8/10
31. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A 34-year-old underachiever gets run over by a bus, but his story isn't over. Reincarnated as an infant, he'll embark on an epic adventure.
Stars: Yumi Uchiyama, Tomokazu Sugita, Amber Lee Connors, Ai Kakuma
Votes: 19,837
7/10
32. Violet Evergarden (2018)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Drama, Family
In the aftermath of a great war, Violet Evergarden, a young female ex-soldier, gets a job at a writers' agency and goes on assignments to create letters that can connect people.
Stars: Yui Ishikawa, Erika Harlacher, Raissa Bueno, Aya Endô
Votes: 29,604
7.5/10
33. Spy x Family (2022– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A spy on an undercover mission gets married and adopts a child as part of his cover. His wife and daughter have secrets of their own, and all three must strive to keep together.
Stars: Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Alex Organ, Saori Hayami
Votes: 38,949
7.5/10
34. Erased (2016)
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Crime, Drama
29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.
Stars: Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Tao Tsuchiya, Minami Takayama, Ben Diskin
Votes: 58,245
7.5/10
35. Assassination Classroom (2013–2016)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A powerful creature claims that within a year, Earth will be destroyed by him, but he offers mankind a chance by becoming a homeroom teacher where he teaches his students about how to kill him. An assassination classroom begins.
Stars: Jun Fukuyama, Mai Fuchigami, Bryce Papenbrook, Vic Mignogna
Votes: 20,890
6.5/10
36. Clannad (2007–2008)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A high school student who cares little about school or others meets a lonely girl who had to repeat a year while all her friends finished high school. He decides to hang out with her and soon meets more friendly students.
Stars: Yûichi Nakamura, David Matranga, Mai Nakahara, Luci Christian
Votes: 10,360
6.5/10
37. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019– )
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A family is attacked by demons and only two members survive - Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, who is turning into a demon slowly. Tanjiro sets out to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and cure his sister.
Stars: Natsuki Hanae, Zach Aguilar, Abby Trott, Akari Kitô
Votes: 148,022
7.5/10
38. Summer Time Rendering (2022)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Due to the death of her childhood friend, Shinpei returns to her native home, but beneath the surface this island seems to hold some secrets.
Stars: Natsuki Hanae, Stephen Fu, John Choi, Merk Nguyen
Votes: 5,830
7/10
39. Tokyo Revengers (2021– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Drama
Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.
Stars: Griffin Puatu, Darren O'Hare, Adam McArthur, Nicolas Roye
Votes: 25,119
6.5/10
40. Tamako Market (2013)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Romance
Tamako's life becomes complicated with friendships, rivalries and the arrival of a peculiar bird.
Stars: Aya Suzaki, Yûki Kaneko, Juri Nagatsuma, Takumi Yamazaki
Votes: 1,114
6.5/10
41. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Five childhood companions reunite when the ghost of their dead friends appears, and demands they grant her final wish.
Stars: Miyu Irino, Ai Kayano, Haruka Tomatsu, Takahiro Sakurai
Votes: 15,894
7/10
42. Your Lie in April (2014–2015)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A piano prodigy who lost his ability to play after suffering a traumatic event in his childhood is forced back into the spotlight by an eccentric girl with a secret of her own.
Stars: Natsuki Hanae, Risa Taneda, Ayane Sakura, Ryôta Ôsaka
Votes: 37,901
7/10
43. Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
An elite and aloof schoolgirl is in fact severely withdrawn and anxious about communicating with others. An ordinary schoolboy befriends her and helps her to open up and talk with people.
Stars: Aoi Koga, Gakuto Kajiwara, Rie Murakawa, Rina Hidaka
Votes: 9,474
6.5/10
44. Devilman: Crybaby (2018)
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Action, Drama
With demons reawakened and humanity in turmoil, a sensitive demon-boy is led into a brutal, degenerate war against evil by his mysterious friend, Ryo.
Stars: Kôki Uchiyama, Ayumu Murase, Kyle McCarley, Griffin Burns
Votes: 28,254
7/10
45. Kids on the Slope (2012)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Drama, Music
Two different students - a successful but aloof academic and a rebellious but kindhearted delinquent - form a friendship through their love for music.
Stars: Brittney Karbowski, Luci Christian, David Matranga, David Wald
Votes: 3,351
7/10
46. Tomo-chan Is a Girl! (2023)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Tomo is a tomboy who has been in love with her childhood friend Junichiro, and strives to make him see her as a romantic candidate.
Stars: Rie Takahashi, Kaito Ishikawa, Rina Hidaka, Ricco Fajardo
Votes: 2,718
7/10
47. Hitoribocchi no OO Seikatsu (2019)
23 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
In order to reconcile with her childhood friend, a very shy girl aims to befriend everyone in her class.
Stars: Chisaki Morishita, Minami Tanaka, Akari Kitô, Yûko Kurose
Votes: 485
6.5/10
48. Ranking of Kings (2021–2022)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The people of the kingdom look down on the young Prince Bojji, who can neither hear nor speak. They call him "The Useless Prince" while jeering at his supposed foolishness.
Stars: Hinata Minami, Ayumu Murase, SungWon Cho, Emily Fajardo
Votes: 12,135
6.5/10
49. Kaiba (2008)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
In a futuristic dystopian world where memories are literally stored, bought and sold and rich have all the privileges, a young amnesiac is trying to find out who he is.
Stars: Romi Park, Mamiko Noto, Houko Kuwashima, Taketora
Votes: 1,975
6/10
50. Yuri!!! On Ice (2016–2017)
TV-14 | 20 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
After suffering defeat, Yuri Katsuki hangs up his ice skates for good. But will an encounter with two top skaters reignite his passion?
Stars: Jun'ichi Suwabe, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Kôki Uchiyama, Jessie James Grelle
Votes: 10,182
6/10 - the LGBTs deserve better anime than this
51. BNA (2020)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Morphed into a raccoon beastman, Michiru seeks refuge, and answers, with the aid of wolf beastman Shirou inside the special zone of Anima-City.
Stars: Sumire Morohoshi, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Gara Takashima, Cherami Leigh
Votes: 3,412
5.5/10
52. The Devil Is a Part-Timer! (2013–2023)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Hilarity and fun ensues when Satan ends up in modern day Japan without any magic to return, and starts working part time in a fast food joint.
Stars: Yôko Hikasa, Jessie James Grelle, Felecia Angelle, Tia Lynn Ballard
Votes: 8,667
5/10 - first anime I ever watched
53. Sword Art Online (2012– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In the year 2022, thousands of people get trapped in a new virtual MMORPG and the lone wolf player, Kirito, works to escape.
Stars: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Haruka Tomatsu, Bryce Papenbrook, Cherami Leigh
Votes: 52,696
4/10 - the only bad anime I've watched
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