My 12 Favorite Anime of All Time, Ranked

I’ve been a lifelong anime fan. With that being said, I’ve had a renewed interest in the medium over the last few years, and figured it was as good of a time as any to put together a list of my favorite anime of all time. Use this list to help you figure out what your next binge might be, or as a good starting point to begin your own anime journey for the first time.

In truth, the world of anime is pretty big with a lot to explore. You can be soaring high in the skies on a futuristic flying contraption one moment, then deep down in the depths of some cave dueling with swords the next depending on what genre or series you watch.

Through it all, these are the anime – both film and shows – that have had the biggest impact on me through the years.

#12 Cowboy Bebop

An iconic entry into anime’s history

Cowboy Bebop is often mentioned more for its significance in anime history than necessarily because it’s a big hit. However, any serious anime fan should watch this one. While it’s not really a shonen in the typical sense, it’s got a strong main character who is pretty badass, and also one with a terrible backstory that’s haunting and heartbreaking all at once.

The story is told in an episodic manner rather than the continuous narrative-style most modern anime follow. Still, it’s a masterclass in what anime can be when driven by art not just action, while not sacrificing on all of the fights and fury that make the other top anime on this list worth their weight in anime-watching gold.

Still, that scene where Spike falls slowly through the church window to that weird and slightly angelic chorus playing remains one of the most memorable anime sequences to date.

#11 Naruto

The cultural phenomenon that defined a generation of anime lovers

Naruto is so massive I almost feel cliche adding it to this list. But in truth, I wouldn’t be being honest if I didn’t credit Naruto for its huge role in my own anime journey. Indeed, for many Naruto was the defining anime, and the one that first got them into the medium. To this day, I’ve seen few fictional worlds that have come close to pulling off what Naruto somehow pulled off.

At the same time, Naruto as a show is admittedly hard to bite off. It’s got an insane number of episodes that make it a tough one to pitch to more casual anime fans, and it also suffers from many of the issues that plague anime of its time – especially those lengthy fillers.

What I like best about Naruto, however, is its excellent world building. While Naruto may best be remembered for his plucky attitude and determination, it’s the complex and cohesive world he lived in that remains so compelling to me today: one where everything felt like it had a past and story.

It’s hard to pull off worlds that feel as real and fleshed as the one Naruto lives in. And while later seasons would see some of the epic and brainy ninja-vs-ninja battles be replaced with power-crept smackdowns, Naruto will forever be one-of-a-kind and earns its reputation as one of the Big Three.

#10 Vinland Saga

Anime Vikings never looked so good

Vinland Saga fuzes anime aesthetic and action with Viking history and manages to pull it off into one of the most intriguing anime shows of our times. While both of Vinland Saga’s seasons are strong, it’s the epic first season that feels like one of the original Icelandic Sagas come to life in 2D anime fashion that really hooked me.

Thorfinn’s story from ragtag kid to merciless killer is one of the more compelling character reversals pulled off in a single season for any anime, while the political tensions between viking factions, England, and the wily Askeladd do a better job of accurately depicting the times and history the show is based on than History Channel’s Vikings ever did.

With only two seasons to its name, Vinland Saga still has a lot to explore from the very eventful Viking Age, and hopefully we’ll see Thorfinn return for more adventures sooner rather than later.

#9 Samurai Champloo

The one that popularized lofi hiphop

Samurai Champloo is very similar in structure to Cowboy Bebop albeit with an even trendier soundtrack that helped popularize Lofi beats as well as that samurai aesthetic that draw many to the medium. This one is a bit more fight-focused than Cowboy Bebop, however, and it’s got a lighter tone with a happier outlook that makes it feel more contemporary despite being relatively aged at this point.

That being said, the animation still holds up and it’s an absolute must-watch for fans of samurai sword battles as well as an excellent entry point for those looking for bit-sized stories rather than lengthy and drawn out epics.

#8 Your Name

The anime that defined a generation

Your Name came out at sort of the perfect time for me – back when I was going through many of the same transitions of early adulthood that its central characters were also going through. It’s also one of those anime with a huge appeal that’s high level enough for just about anyone to connect with.

Meanwhile, it’s a blend of cinematic masterpiece with some of the unique storytelling techniques that only anime can really pull off effectively. While it’s one of the biggest anime films of all time in terms of the numbers, it’s real impact came from its ability to translate the feelings of a generation at odds with the world they were inheriting into a paranormal love story between a boy and a girl.

#7 Demon Slayer

The biggest anime of all time

Going purely by box office numbers, Demon Slayer is the biggest anime of all time. Truly, what other anime could possibly command nearly a billion dollars at the box office for a feature film? Demon Slayer really feels like the zenith of anime culture – the one anime above all others that has come to symbolize anime to the broader world. And while it’s accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without all the other anime that came before it, it takes some of the best elements from many other anime and distills them into something unique and new.

The latest film in the franchise, Infinity Castle, was a true spectacle unlike anything I have ever seen before in anime. The fact that we’re getting movies like this is the 2020s makes me so very glad to alive as an anime fan today.

Still, even with all of its incredible popularity, Demon Slayer isn’t without its imperfections. Infinity Castle itself is known for somewhat awkard pacing despite its overwhelming awesomeness. Tanjiro – while a lovely character – isn’t nearly on the level of some of anime’s other great MCs, and it’s an anime that’s more focused on its themes and fights than complexity of characters, internal struggles, or complex plot.

Yet, at the end of the day it’s an anime that’s high level enough to draw a huge crowd, and perhaps the one that will be responsible above all others for inspiring the future to come for the medium. Meanwhile, my personal favorite thing about this film is its unrelenting optimism in the face of the greatest evil and the overwhelming themes of pushing through adversity no matter the cost.

#6 Kaiju No. 8

A recent anime that shows how far the medium has come

My first thought after watching the first season of Kaiju No. 8 was “man…they didn’t make anime like this when I was a kid.”

Other than a killer soundtrack and fight scenes that outstrip most of what we got in the 2000s by a mile, Kaiju No. 8 stands out for its much more positive take on the human vs. monster genre that’s become so popular since the rise of Attack on Titan.

Indeed, one of Kaiju No. 8’s biggest appeals isn’t just its insane fights between hyper powerful humans and deadly monsters – it’s the show’s light humor despite the challenges its protagonist’s face.

This is a stark contrast to the decidedly darker tone many of the top anime have as of late, and it’s a welcome pallet cleanser for those longing for anime’s more optimistic days when anyone could become Hokage just through hard work.

Wondering what other anime Kaiju No. 8 most resembles? Think of it as a cross between Attack on Titan and One Punch Man and you’ll start to scratch the surface of this awesome story.

#5 Howl’s Moving Castle

The easiest entry point to anime newcomers

Howl’s Moving Castle is the first anime I ever saw beyond the scope of the typical Toonami fare available in the 2000s. As tame as Howl feels to me compared to the stuff I’ve seen since then, at the time I first watched it the Studio Ghibli blockbuster felt a bit out there. It was a lot more foreign and complex in its symbolism and storytelling than stuff I was used to, and helped to open up my mind up to what anime can be when done at the highest level of mastery.

Another thing that makes Howl an excellent starting point for newcomers to anime is that it feels a lot like a Disney film and indeed follows very similar themes to those in Beauty and the Beast. It’s complex enough for adults, simple enough for children, and an anime for the ages for all ages. Meanwhile, Christian Bale’s voice acting in the English dub stands out as an excellent performance even for that formidable actor while Howl’s character reversal from cowardly loner to protective hero is among the most compelling in the medium.

#4 Death Note

The greatest cat and mouse game ever

I remember a time when Death Note was my favorite anime. This show just had so much going for it – a compelling protagonist almost on the same level as Lelouch from Code Geass (more on that next) – and when it’s at it’s best it’s absolutely up there with the best anime of all time.

That being said, the infamous occurrence (won’t spoil it her) that happens around halfway through the show remains a problem in terms of pacing and does lower the excitement for the series in the second half.

However, Death Note remains unique as one of the first massively popular anime shows to explore an evil protagonist. While many shows have done this since with the most popular being Attack on Titan, none have done it as convincinly as Death Note did with Light.

Additionally, Death Note has one of the best cat and mouse game themes of any show, period. Although not the main character, the series’s main good guy, “L” and his pursuit of the main protagonist/antagonist Light is this anime’s most compelling aspect. When the two eccentric geniuses go at it in their high stakes battle of wits, it’s pure entertainment.

Death Note is an easy show to get into and if you’ve not seen a bunch of anime before feeling much like a western crime drama for the entire first season.

#3 Code Geass

One of the greatest anime main characters ever

Code Geass is a great anime worth watching for one reason above all others: Lelouch Lamperouge. From the very first moment you are introduced to him you realize that Lelouch is a character on an entirely different level. His sense for drama, his overwhelming compassion for a select few individuals and almost psychopathic willingness to use others only draws you further to him. Indeed, when watching the twists and turns of Code Geass one of the things that keeps you watching more is wondering just how far Lelouch is willing to go to achieve his personal aims.

It’s got a lot of mecha action for those who can’t get enough of mechas, but the thing that drew me in the most about Code Geass was simply Lelouch – one of anime’s greatest main characters of all time.

However, that’s also sort of where the main drawback for Code Geass rests, too. With so much hinging on Lelouch and so much screen time devoted to him, the rest of the cast can at times feel like they are a sideshow rather than fully developed characters in their own right. While many still get powerful motivations and development, they all pale in comparison to the drama that is Lelouch – a sort of Hamlet of his own dystopian future.

Still, there are lovable characters here that include Euphemia, C.C., and Kallen, while Suzaku offers a compelling foil to Lelouch in every way needed to make this show feel less like a shonen anime and more like a powerful Shakespearian tragedy.

#2 BLEACH

A battle anime great

BLEACH makes its way this high up on the list for one reason above all others: the fights. In terms of battle anime, it’s among the best, and manages to be so without ever losing the core adrenaline-fueled fight scenes that made it great from the start. The trademarked “Bankai” move feels synonymous with any unveiling of great power in anime, and is such a compelling plot device that many wait on the edge of their seats just to see a character’s Bankai they haven’t seen before.

The latest arc included in the anime – Thousand Year Blood War – is arguably its best to date, and takes epic battle scenes to a whole new level. With its fourth and final season wrapping up soon, now is a great time to binge watch everything from the Soul Society Invasion arc until now to catch the final showdown teased in the final season trailer.

While BLEACH doesn’t offer a ton in terms of overly-complex themes or huge character development, we do watch BLEACH’s main hero, Ichigo, go through some crazy tough things to get to where he is at, and his resilience in the face of overwhelming odds is truly inspiring.

However, he’s far from the only character worth rooting for in this epic – one of BLEACH’s greatest strengths is its incredible cast of characters. There are plenty of powerful and strong characters to like apart from Ichigo, with my favorite being the sword wielding devil Kenpachi!

#1 Sword Art Online

SAO’s strength lies in its relationships between characters

I always preface my love for Sword Art Online with the fact that I am a newcomer to the series. And being a newcomer I missed a lot of the drama that seems to surround the series as a whole. Basically, if you don’t know already, those heavily involved in the anime scene tend to have very strong feelings about Sword Art Online. And the louder faction are its detractors.

I won’t go too deep into that, however, other than to say you might come across a lot of negative criticisms as you dive into SAO. However, don’t let it deter you – the anime is brilliant, its films are extraordinary, and the light novel series is just as good as the anime.

What I like best about Sword Art Online is the series’s focus on interpersonal relationships between characters and their development as the story progresses. Actually, when I found out that the series was based on a Light Novel (essentially the Japanese equivalent of young adult fiction) the series began to make more sense. As a huge reader myself, I was drawn to the more complex themes SAO contained than your typical manga-based anime adaptation. As opposed to characters feeling more like generic blends, each stood out as his or her own character.

Sword Art Online is also unique among anime as it’s a series that gets better as you go. While many of its early fans got hung up on the Aincrad days, the show really starts to hit its stride in season three, and the light novels that go beyond season three are exceptionally good and will make for a great show if they ever get adapted into an anime.

If you’re looking for a great jumping-in point to the world of anime, SAO works as both a great starting point as well as the ideal next step for a more casual anime fan looking to dive a bit deeper into the joys that the medium has to offer.