Top 10 Anime With the Best Story

Anime offers qualities that most other forms of media do not possess. One of the standout aspects is the unique storytelling found in each anime.

Here are ten anime series with some of the best stories.

1. One Piece

   

   One Piece is a manga franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. The manga was adapted into an original video animation (OVA) produced by Production I.G in 1998. The anime series produced by Toei Animation began broadcasting in Japan in 1999 and, as of now, has aired 851 episodes.

   One Piece is simply the gold standard for how to write a long-running anime. Each saga is its own confined epic, and the variety from saga to saga is just brilliant. The characters are simply phenomenal, with interactions that make them seem real. The emotional beats are hit every single time, and no form of art has ever made me cry as much as One Piece has.

   While a lot of people who haven't seen or read One Piece like to say that it's just a classic "I wanna be the best" story, with Luffy's goal being to become the Pirate King, the concept of the Pirate King and what it takes to become one plays beautifully into the lore of the world, global politics, power dynamics, and what it means to truly be free. Above all else, One Piece is an adventure, and it takes you with it.

2. Death Note

   

   Death Note is a Japanese anime television series based on the manga created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The story follows Light Yagami, a gifted high school student with a strong sense of justice who discovers a notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in it. His actions as... read more

   If the quality was consistent throughout the entire show, I'd say it'd be gunning for the #1 slot. Unfortunately, things kind of take a nosedive halfway through the show after a major character is killed off.

   Death Note is such an anime where you can almost never predict what is going to happen. It is serious, super-cool, and includes loads of other stuff such as crazy detective plots and scary Shinigamis!

   The cat-and-mouse situation between L and Light is so intense and fun to watch. The story is grand, and I can never think of any anime better than Death Note.

3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

   

   Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime series adapted from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa. It closely follows the original manga storyline, in contrast to the earlier 2003 adaptation. The series is highly acclaimed for its animation, character development, and faithful adaptation... read more

   Watching anime since the '90s, but there's no anime as memorable, unique, and compelling in storyline as FMA. This is the gold standard of anime storytelling.

   Unlike Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, etc. (that add in so many episodes of useless story arcs just so the producers can milk every penny from the viewers for each episode aired), the FMA: Brotherhood episodes have a limited 64 interconnected episodes. Absolutely no fillers, absolutely no useless arcs.

   FMAB has a brilliant, flawless storyline that is told through characters that are perfectly imperfect and you can easily relate to. Not a single filler episode to distract from the main plot, and it's the only anime that will make you laugh, cry, and throw something at the screen all in one episode.

4. Dragon Ball Z

   

   Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. It follows the adventures of Goku and the Z Warriors as they protect Earth from various villains. The series emphasizes themes of good versus evil and teaches values such as teamwork, loyalty, and perseverance.

   It definitely has a good storyline in some parts, like the whole time travel/Cell/Future Trunks thing, but that isn't why anyone watches DBZ.

   Animes like Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood obviously have a better story, but this anime is overall so great that I can't stop myself from voting for it.

   It will always be the best anime for me. I also like One Piece, Naruto, Death Note, FMAB, and Attack on Titan, but I prefer none above Dragon Ball Z. It is far above those for me.

5. Monster

   

   Monster (Japanese: モンスター, Monsutā) is a manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa. It is often referred to as Naoki Urasawa's Monster and is widely acclaimed by critics. The series has won multiple awards and its anime adaptation is considered one of the finest of its decade.... read more

   Really? Lower than overhyped kid shows like Fullmetal Alchemist and Attack on Titan? This is one of the best-written anime, with a wonderful dark theme running all throughout the show.

   Watch this for something way different from the clichéd fightings of huge robots and ninjas with magic swords. Watch this to experience the horror in the seemingly mundane lives around us.

   Why? This anime must be in the top 3 without a doubt. I haven't seen an anime with such an intricate, mature, and complex plot as this. All the characters are completely relatable, and the world feels so close to reality, which is really scary to think of. Vote this to the top.

6. Naruto

   

   Naruto is an anime and manga franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. The manga was adapted into a television anime series produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex. It premiered on TV Tokyo and other TX Network stations on October 3, 2002.... read more

   I, a grown man, cried watching this anime. The story is beautifully written, and though there are many fillers, they also have a lot of importance within the story, and some are amazing (like the crystal user arc). There are many characters who all get their time, unlike a few animes where one character hogs the story.

   The main character is an idiot who never gave up. Naruto made me look at life differently, and I believe we can all learn something from this anime. 10/10. Outstanding job, Kishimoto.

   Extremely rich story, great portrayal, and emotion-rich. Very inspiring as well, and very addictive. It's not meant to be eye-candy like some anime which focus a lot on the beauty of characters and scenic views. The character evolution is awesome as well, showing all the struggles and hard work they go through. It did feel a little too focused on the main character, but even then, it's much better than most anime series. The abilities are not like everyone can do everything without any base. Funny moments are great. Friendships are great. Detailed stories of all main characters are shown very well. I can watch it forever and repeatedly. This is what actually got me interested in Anime series. Otherwise, I had lost interest in series, just watching random funny cartoons.

7. Naruto Shippuden

   

   Naruto: Shippuden is the anime sequel to the original Naruto series, adapting content from volume 28 onward of the manga. The show premiered in Japan on February 15, 2007, on TV Tokyo. It is produced by Studio Pierrot and directed by Hayato Date, continuing the story of Naruto Uzumaki as he faces new... read more

   Naruto Shippuden's potential in the story relies a lot on whether or not you've watched Naruto. But if you have, it gives many nostalgic feels during flashbacks and conflicts between characters who share a relation towards each other in the original series. I don't agree that the original series is that far away in position than this one. It's just as good, and maybe even better.

   Seeing how much the characters have progressed makes it feel so rewarding to have gone this far in the series. Also, the 4th Great Ninja War was such a climax. It got me so excited that I could not stop watching. It's a masterpiece, showing both great action and emotion in such a way that how they pulled off the story seems so unbelievable. I hope it ranks much higher than this...

8. Code Geass

   

   Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, often referred to simply as Code Geass, is a Japanese anime series created by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by the manga artist group Clamp. The series debuted in 2006 and is known for its... read more

   Right away, it reminds you of Death Note, but it's so much better. Light in Death Note always had me anxious because he was always doing some crazy stuff. It was so cool, but it wasn't my favorite for that reason.

   So, I'm watching this, and since it's so much longer and there is so much more going on, I'm literally going through so much because Lulu is basically insane compared to Light. I had to stop the show all the time so I could gather my thoughts about the stuff he did. So, if you don't understand what I'm trying to say through all of that, you should just watch it. You won't regret it.

   It's just too good. It ruined anime for me. I can't watch anything else because it can't compare to Code Geass.

   However, I did watch Death Note right after because people said it had similarities, so I might enjoy it as well. Death Note is also a great anime until halfway through but makes up for it in the end.

   In my opinion, you should watch Death Note first so that you can't compare it to Code Geass, and you can enjoy it more. Then watch Code Geass.

9. Attack on Titan

   

   Attack on Titan, known in Japan as Shingeki no Kyojin, is a widely acclaimed anime series created by Hajime Isayama. The series premiered in Japan in April 2013 and debuted in English in the United States in 2014. It is recognized for its emotional storytelling, post-apocalyptic setting, and thrilling... read more

   My #1 pick. Thoroughly thought-out plot. Follows the laws of physics of the world it has been set in. Very few to no gaps in occurring events. The only con I would say the story has is that our main protagonists always stall when going to kill the antagonists and, in turn, let them escape. A ton of avoidable mishaps.

   I know, I know, it is all for the good cause of character development in our protagonists. But it just doesn't sit well with me that they watch someone slay hundreds of their comrades and yet they still have some kind of sympathy towards them, solely based on the fact that they were their friends once before. Overall, an amazing story and I would argue to say this is still better than any other anime on this list.

10. Cowboy Bebop

    

    Cowboy Bebop is a Japanese anime television series that premiered in 1998 and was produced by the animation studio Sunrise. The series was directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, written by Keiko Nobumoto, and featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto and mechanical designs by Kimitoshi Yamane. The music... read more

    My absolute favorite. Just make sure you watch the movie at the right place in the series because you absolutely must make sure that the final episode is the final thing that you watch from this amazing anime.

    This should be number 1. This is hands-down the most fascinating anime ever created. It's the perfect gateway for anyone who's interested in watching anime.

    I think it's time we blow this stand. Get everybody and their stuff together. Okay, 3, 2, 1, let's jam!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    YuYu Hakusho

    

    Yu Yu Hakusho is a manga series created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The anime adaptation, which includes 112 episodes, was directed by Noriyuki Abe and co-produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising, and Studio Pierrot.

    It aired on Fuji TV in Japan from October 10, 1992 to December 17, 1994. The... read more

12. ?

    Demon Slayer

    
The Contenders

13. Hunter x Hunter

    

    Hunter × Hunter is a manga series created by Yoshihiro Togashi. In 1999, it was adapted into a 62-episode anime television series produced by Nippon Animation and directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi. The original show aired on Japan's Fuji TV and ran until 2001.... read more

    This is one of my most favourite anime of all time, just after Attack on Titan. How could it be that low in the ranking? The story is insane. It is so wholesome and refreshing.

    Everything is so unique in this story. The characters, the personalities, and the power system "Nen" are the best I have seen in all of anime. What makes Hunter X Hunter different from any other anime is that, unlike Luffy, Midoriya, or Asta, Gon Freecss, the protagonist, started off pretty well with his power. Most other characters start from the bottom and become zero-to-heroes. Instead of overcoming obstacles to become the greatest, he just wants to find his dad, who abandoned him when he was young. Even with his great power, he is forced to sacrifice it all for the good of someone else.

    Even side characters can put you through oceans of tears. No anime can come close to what Hunter X Hunter has shown me. I wish I could forget everything I watched in this anime so I could rewatch it again and get the same feeling I did when I first watched it. That is how amazing Hunter X Hunter is.

14. Fairy Tail

    

    Fairy Tail is a manga franchise created by Hiro Mashima. It was adapted into an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, which first aired in Japan on October 12, 2009. The franchise also includes several original video animations and a feature film titled Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess... read more

    Many critics regard Fairy Tail harshly due to the lack of originality in the arcs and the 'treatment' of women. But aren't One Piece, Naruto, and many other anime the same? The difference between the classic overly sexualized female characters and the Fairy Tail girls is that these girls are pretty and kick-ass. They're independent, strong, and mega-strong actually. They know this, and they own it.

    The arcs criticized for having little originality are, in my opinion, a bit unfairly judged. Natsu is flamboyant and often steals the show in fights. The 'nakama power' is not a super skill but rather his loyalty to and love for his friends, which drives him to stand back up and fight. All Fairy Tail members are the same in their own ways. Each arc is an adventure. The character development is delivered in spades, albeit subtly.

    I guess what I want to say is: This series never bores.

15. Sword Art Online

    

    Sword Art Online is a series of Japanese light novels written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. In 2012, it was adapted into an anime by A-1 Pictures and the SAO Project, directed by Tomohiko Ito. The first season features two arcs, "Aincrad" and "Fairy Dance," and it was followed by a second... read more

    An anime that could have been the very best if they had made 50-100 episodes and developed the world they were in and the characters a lot more. But instead, they rushed a lot of what was happening and kept changing things up.

    I could make more sense of my opinion, but I don't want to ruin the show for new viewers. Still worth watching.

    Overall, it's very intriguing. The storyline has many details filled with action, mystery, and romance. You get so attached to the characters. Their personalities are amazing, the animation is beautiful, and it is relatable to gamers and anyone really. I loved it, but it does kind of lose its fire by the second season.

16. Akame ga Kill

    

    Akame ga Kill! (アカメが斬る!, Akame ga Kiru!) is a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro, serialized in Gangan Joker. It received an anime adaptation that premiered on July 6, 2014, and concluded on December 14, 2014. The story follows a group of assassins fighting against... read more

    The story in the anime is better than in the manga. The manga is totally crap. And everybody who bought it should know that the manga ending is crappier than ever. The anime story will be better.

    Great anime with a great ending!

    It's a good, depressing anime with some great action scenes and amazing background music.

17. Dragon Ball Super

    

    Dragon Ball Super is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation that began airing on July 5, 2015. It is a sequel to the original Dragon Ball manga and follows the events of Dragon Ball Z. This was the first new Dragon Ball television series with an original storyline in 18 years.

18. Gurren Lagann

    

    Gurren Lagann, known in Japan as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, is an anime series produced by Gainax in collaboration with Aniplex and Konami. It was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima. The show originally aired in 2007 and gained acclaim for its energetic style and ambitious... read more

    I picked this over Attack on Titan (even though I like it more) because the storyline was just plain out amazing! This anime deserves so much more credit. The plot took such a twist when (won't use names because spoilers) one of the main characters dies not even 10 episodes in.

    My favorite anime of all time. A crazy, over-the-top story and animation with some of the best characters I've ever seen.

    I will sum this up with just one simple question: Who the hell do you think I am?

19. Elfen Lied

    

    Elfen Lied is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Lynn Okamoto. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine from June 2002 to August 2005. The series includes 107 chapters, which have been compiled into twelve tankōbon volumes.

    Heartbreaking story but beautiful at the same time!

20. Steins;Gate

    

    Steins;Gate is a 2011 anime television series created by the animation studio White Fox. It is based on the 2009 visual novel developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, and is part of the Science Adventure franchise. The series has been praised for its intricate time travel narrative.

    Best anime plot ever, even better than Death Note. This is an amazing work of a genius mind with a deep relation to actual science and the timeline theory, making it complex and engrossing. Truly deserves to be in the top 5.

    How is this not in the top ten? It blew my mind with its many plot twists and amazing character development. It had a great story, and it really drew me into the world it created.

    Absolutely the best plot I've had the pleasure to experience, with tons of plot twists done right. The level of sympathy you develop for the main character is immeasurable.

21. Kill la Kill

    

    Kill la Kill is a Japanese anime television series produced by Studio Trigger. The story follows Ryuko Matoi, a transfer student who enters a mysterious high school while searching for her father's killer. The series is known for its dynamic animation, intense battles, and unique clothing-based power... read more

22. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

    

    All eight parts are good, but I liked Season 5, Part 3, Dawn of the Duel the best. It takes us through Atem's past, and we follow him through the past as he recovers his memory. Then there's the duel between Atem and Yugi at the end.

    Even though we all had to say goodbye to Atem at the end, it's a great close to the show because it means that now Yugi is alone, and he has to overcome the challenges ahead by himself.

    Yes, yes, yes, YES! Unlike many other shows about card games (read: Pokémon), this one has a plot. Every villain, every hero, every anti-hero, fits in so well with the story. Each season, the duels just get bigger and better, and you can relate to all the characters (even the villains!) and some of the events.

    All in all, it's the best anime I have watched with a great, thought-out plot. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!

23. Rurouni Kenshin

    

    Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (るろうに剣心 明治剣客浪漫譚, Rurōni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Rōmantan), also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese anime series based on the manga written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story is set during the early Meiji period in Japan and... read more

    One of my favorite shows. It follows history perfectly, the sword fights are just perfect, as well as a love story that isn't rushed.

    Great show. One of the best period drama/action anime. There are a lot of great sword fights, and the story progresses at a really good pace. Well-written and well-made, this is one anime that will be particularly enjoyed by young adults.

    It's been three months since I completed the show, and I still get goosebumps every time I hear anything related. It starts off as an almost comedy-like show, but the further you go, the deeper the characters develop. Also, maybe the best OVAs ever.

24. Baccano!

    

    Baccano! (バッカーノ!), which means ruckus or stupid commotion in Italian, is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryōgo Narita. The series has over twenty published volumes.

    The story is told in an anachronistic manner and spans three time periods: the early 1700s, the 1930s, and the 2000s. Although... read more

    I think, in terms of plot, Baccano's is one of the best. It's solid and consistent... Especially if we keep in mind all the different characters, each with his/her own story. The beauty of it is that we don't fully understand everything until the very end.

    It's been years since I watched this (never read the LN), but I still remember everything in it...

    Best ending in an anime ever. Yes, even better than my favorite anime, Cowboy Bebop.

    How can something so silly be so entertaining?

25. Hellsing Ultimate

    

    Hellsing is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It follows the secret Hellsing Organization as it battles vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural threats across England. The series inspired the anime adaptation Hellsing Ultimate, which closely follows the manga's storyline... read more

26. RWBY

    

    RWBY is an American 3D animated web series created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. The show is set in the fictional world of Remnant, where young people train to become Huntsmen and Huntresses. Their mission is to protect humanity from the monstrous creatures known as Grimm.

    I wish Monty died sooner, because it's been getting much better since then.

    Love this show so much. I just wish Monty didn't die.

    Once you get to Volume 3, you'll be hooked.

27. Hellsing

    

    Hellsing is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It premiered in Young King OURs in 1997 and concluded in September 2008. The series follows the Hellsing Organization as it battles supernatural threats, particularly vampires and other undead enemies.