Top 10 Best Anime of All Time

Best anime ever! Let's put it in first place! It's the most amazing anime I've ever seen.

Death Note is an epic, intense masterpiece, an unforgettable adventure. The plot is enthralling, and the characters are realistic and three-dimensional.

Clever, crisp, addictive, and unpredictable, Death Note's intelligence and dark appeal remain relatively unrivaled. Every storyline, no matter how minor, is thoroughly thought out and intelligently placed. The characters are striking - lovable, realistic, and relatable. They stand in sharp contrast to a sea of forgettable cliches, sucking you in with their own searing conviction and sincerity.

They make you forget the world around you. They make you forget where you are, what you're doing. That's how entwined you will become in these characters. Death Note manages to capture electrifying tension behind every word, filling the air with implications and assumptions. It leaves you ringing with the raw impact of each line, building this tension as it goes, leaving you clamoring to see what happens next.

You don't need to be a genius to deduce that it lives up to every bit of the hype. Death Note is definitely worth your time - and in my humble opinion, first place on this list.

You heard it right, Dragon Ball Z haters! No matter how much you hate it, this anime has to be the most popular in our generation. Not only in Japan and the US, but in other countries all over the world as well. Just check its Wikipedia page and see how many languages it has been translated into. Most people who got into the anime fandom started with Dragon Ball Z.

Some people bash Dragon Ball Z for its long fight scenes that span several episodes, for characters that move too fast that you don't see them anymore, etc. Some even compare it to newer action titles and say that the new title is better because it has a better story and action scenes. Sure. When it comes to story and action scenes, I don't put Dragon Ball Z as my number one either, but we're talking about the "greatest" here. I try to recall how much I loved it during its time when this new anime doesn't exist yet. How much excitement did it give me back then, and compare that to the excitement this newer anime with better story and fight scenes gives me. I can say that nothing beats Dragon Ball Z in that matter. It was the first of its kind, and the others only followed.

Only a few consider Muhammad Ali to be the pound-for-pound best boxer of all time. He's been beaten several times while other fighters retire with their records unblemished. But why is it that everyone considers him "The Greatest"?

A good storyline, good fights, and, as someone said before, it explains what happened to all the characters, unlike Bleach, where they really forgot about Ashido, Nelliel, and Kuukaku.

Naruto is the new standard of realistic fantasy! Exaggeration is minimal, and there's always an explanation for everything...

I always say Naruto will be my favorite anime simply because it was the first anime I ever fell in love with. But that's not the only reason I think it's the best anime out there! Anyone who says Naruto is boring, long, too complicated, stupid, or not worth watching obviously hasn't seen enough of it to actually make a legitimate judgment.

Nobody can watch Naruto without relating to a character's feelings or getting tied into the emotional experiences. Naruto touches on key subjects like friendship, enduring loneliness and pain, teamwork, and the will to never give up. The storyline is brilliantly thought out and has everything an anime needs.

Its comedy and silliness bring laughter, but its sad, emotional scenes when the time is right can bring tears. Naruto truly is an amazing anime in itself.

Amazing. Such beautiful and innovative anime is becoming rare these days. Those who appreciate stunning graphics will be pleased. Personally, I haven't seen anything like this since "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood."

Not to mention the plot, which is truly exceptional. It is so well-crafted that we are instantly immersed in the apocalyptic atmosphere, which is also reflected in all the characters.

I highly recommend this one.

I'm watching this show right now, and oh my gosh, it's such a close contender for my favorite.

The plot twists, lore, and foreshadowing are so insanely cool.

One Piece is the best anime I've ever watched because of its unique story. I'm amazed by the writer who created this story. The imagination is incredible. How did he do this? Huh, thumbs up for this.

It delivers to the audience a funny trek and, more than that, a true friendship and dreams occur in this story.

I just can't believe One Piece doesn't at least have the number two spot! One Piece is the most epic anime I have ever watched (I've seen a lot of anime). Oda Sensei is an amazing storyteller and has kept me interested in One Piece up to the current chapters that now number over 600. Yeah, the art may take a little getting used to, but it gets better along the way. Plus, it's more refreshing because it's different from a lot of other shows. I've got to admit, the characters are awesome, and the fights are just amazing. Anyone who says they don't like One Piece obviously hasn't seen up to Sky Island Arc, Water 7 Arc, Impel Down Arc, Marineford War Arc, Fishmen Island Arc, etc. Seriously, don't let the length of the anime and manga stop you from getting into One Piece because you won't regret a single moment of watching or reading it.

Okay, for those of you who don't know, here's the basic premise of the story. It is set in a world where alchemy evolved rather than modern science, in a country where military power rules the state. The story revolves around two brothers who are on a quest to get their bodies back after they lost them performing an alchemy transmutation to try to bring their mother back to life after she died from a fatal disease.

The ritual went wrong, and the oldest brother's left leg was taken while the younger lost his whole body. The elder brother then used his right arm as payment to take his brother's soul and attach it to a suit of armor before it could slip away to the other side. Oh, did I mention that this all happens when they are 10-11 years old? The older brother then gets mechanical "automail" limbs to replace the ones he lost and joins the military, gaining the title "Fullmetal Alchemist," hence the name of the series. The brothers then set out to find a legendary item called the Philosopher's Stone in the hope that they can use its power to restore their bodies. And that is all covered in like, the first two episodes of the show! With 63 more to go, you can imagine the epic adventure that is told as the brothers pursue their dream!

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is simply a masterpiece. It is the greatest anime I have ever seen, in that it made me laugh, cry, stare at the screen in shock and suspense, and gasp aloud. The beautiful animation and by far the best soundtrack I've ever heard just add to the story. The plot is resounding and feels complete at the end, even though I was sad that such a wonderful anime was over.

I felt like I knew each and every character deeply and watched them develop fully throughout the series. Each death felt like a part of my heart was breaking, even the villains. I never got tired of watching and certainly was never bored. This series is one I could watch over and over again! I would recommend this anime to... more

Fairy Tail is amazing and is my favorite! It should definitely be number one on the list. I wish that this anime would be more recognized. I discovered it by luck, and I love it. I love the bonds everyone shares, and how Lucy won't leave her friends' sides even if it would cost her life.

It's perfect. It's sad, dramatic, serious, funny, adventurous, and includes fighting. It's the full package! If you haven't watched this anime yet, I suggest you watch it as soon as possible! It may be an ongoing anime, and it might take you too long to watch all the episodes up to date, but it's definitely worth it!

Naruto should really be number one since they split the votes between Naruto and Shippuden (same series, just early seasons compared to later ones).

When you add up the percentage points of both Naruto and Shippuden, it's 1 percent higher than the current number one (Death Note). They did Naruto so dirty.

In my opinion, Naruto will be the best anime ever, but Naruto Shippuden is what makes it even greater. I think that a lot of good ideas have been used. It's a perfectly executed storyline with amazing characters. SNM!

By far the best anime. Anime should not be assessed on how strong the characters are. So far, that's all that has been shown. Fullmetal Alchemist has an amazing plot, with a blend of action, adventure, and emotions.

Fullmetal Alchemist is a fairly short anime series (compared to the ones above), yet has sensational character development. It also hurts to see people critiquing this series without watching it, because I can guarantee you that if you see this whole anime, there is no way you can say it is substandard in any way.

Easily one of my favorite anime series. The animation is amazing, the characters are lovable, and the show has some of the best fights in anime.

It should be in the top 10.

I wasn't really expecting this anime to be that good. The first episode blew me away due to how great it sets the foundation for future episodes.

The protagonist is easily one of my top favorites because of how relatable he is and his goofy personality.

I didn't know what to expect, but it was way better than I imagined. It's basically shonen without the overdone tropes and with even edgier action, which I like.

Also, you just can't hate Itadori or anyone. Even Sukuna may be a jerk, but he's funny too. The animation is absolute GOD tier.

I don't think you get as much character development from any other anime as you do in Hunter x Hunter. Each character you meet is unique and well-written. Even the side characters are given some amazing roles to play.

The main character is a delight to watch grow throughout the various arcs. I have experienced a major sociological slap from watching some truly heartbreaking and exhilarating scenes. When the bad guys do good and the good guys do bad, you're left wondering who to root for, who to hate, and who to fear.

The characters, the emotions, the adventure, the puzzles, the battles, the animation, the feels... this anime honestly deserves more attention, as it is seriously underrated. It's pretty unsettling to see overhyped mainstream animes take the spot of ones that really deserve to be higher. Hunter x Hunter is truly a king of an anime, among the best.

It's sad that this is overruled by the Pokemon anime.

Seasons 1-2 are kind of cringy and childish, but seasons 3 and 4 delve into deeper themes and introduce the central villains of the show. The first half of season 2 is boring and long, but it is necessary for development. Think of 1-2 as a setup for the rest of the series.

Plus, it has plenty of risqué humor! It has a perverted schoolboy character and a perverted teacher, like every good school anime does! It's nothing too bad, just teenagers talking about what teenagers talk about, and a couple of nosebleed scenes. Season 3 has a nude scene in the second episode that isn't too mature but still unsuitable for an 8 or 9-year-old.

This is not the best anime, although it's up there, but this show has been part of so many people's childhoods (myself included). Pokemon has been embedded in pop culture, and most people know about the show. The storytelling and animation in Pokemon's earlier days were just beautiful and stunning. The Pokemon designs are really well drawn too, and the characters are memorable. People will say this show has declined, which it has. But think of other shows that have been on air as long as Pokemon has. They have declined in quality too, such as The Simpsons, SpongeBob, etc. Overall, Pokemon is consistent and very lovable and entertaining.

The only reason that DBZ and Naruto are as high up as they are lies in the fact that both are aimed at the younger generations. Anime is perfect for teenagers of any nation to get into. As people grow up, they lose interest in anime and develop interests in more mature shows because society deems we grow up. For those of you who looked back and gave older animes a try, you will quickly discover this one needs to be number one.

I grew up watching this, and some moments made you laugh, while others made you cry. Still others made your jaw fall off and roll across the floor. The story was masterfully crafted. The characters could be related to on nearly all levels, despite being from a completely different time period. Everything was totally believable while still being fresh.

Spike was the quintessential main character. He had his past that you spent most of the series trying to piece together while enjoying the rest of the tale spun for you. Jet was the black dog, the hunter who wouldn't let go, mostly of his past. I always found it cool that they didn't overdo the presence of his cybernetic arm with stupid abilities.

Faye was the woman of their crew. Smart, sexy, and probably too smart for her own good. She was, for a bit, one of the causes of their trouble, but just as often, the solution to other unrelated trouble. Ed was the clearly insane genius of the lot. A mere child, yet she hacked computer networks like it was as simple as breathing.

Finally, last, and yet totally not least, the smartest member of their crew, and the hairiest, was Ein... the dog. Genetically engineered to be smarter than normal, the dog somehow accidentally became a member of their crew and just ended up sticking around, managing to occasionally point them in the right direction without being too obvious about it. Can't have a dog making his "masters" look dumb.

Some would say it's not a "true anime," but I couldn't care less what country made it. Cowboy... more

I didn't like Dragon Ball Z as much because the heroes never really lost. Also, when Goku set the bar by becoming a Super Saiyan, I thought it was cool and all, but after Gohan became SSJ2 and the series progressed, there really was no limit to any of the characters' strength, and that annoyed me.

In Dragon Ball, the characters were very much balanced. Even when nearing the end of the series where Goku had improved greatly under Kami's guidance, the characters were still fairly balanced.

Are the characters balanced? Goku was the one who was overpowered, the only one saving everybody, and he was only defeated in the World Martial Arts Tournament (until Piccolo Jr., that is). In Dragon Ball Z, he at least died. In DBZ, at least in the beginning, there was more help from Piccolo, Krillin, and his son.

Even in the beginning of Dragon Ball, Goku was the one solving most of the fighting problems and saving his friends. There is some humor in DBZ, it just wasn't mostly inappropriate like in Dragon Ball. Do we get Goku's past in Dragon Ball? We get more of it in DBZ, plus more about his planet and his family. And we learn more about Kami/Piccolo too! Both series are about equal. Dragon Ball was more adventure, sure, but other than that, they are both good.

After finishing The Irregular at Magic High School (it is merely decent at best), I can finally conclude that Sword Art Online is much better than The Irregular at Magic High School. I know the two anime are usually compared often, but I feel that Sword Art Online was more enjoyable of the two.

Now, I wouldn't really say it's on the level of well-written like, say, Fate/Zero, but for me, I think Sword Art Online is supposed to be an anime where you enjoy watching it rather than setting high standards for it. If you just watch it for the enjoyment of the anime, you'll like the anime more than when you just watch it for expectations.

There is no equal to this series! I know DBZ was great, and I loved it more than anyone. However, that was before I watched this. To add the intelligence this series brought along with the added morals and high-quality plot, it truly made this a masterpiece!

There has never been a greater ending to a series. Code Geass is unrivaled. Every character had meaning in this magnificent story. There was never a dull moment as the show always kept you on your feet and made you second-guess yourself. I never thought I'd see a show as great as this one. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly advise you to make it a top priority to watch this show!

This is the most amazing anime/manga ever created! The animation/drawing style is so unique and lovely. The characters are developed very well. The setting it's in (Death City) is wonderful and dark. The fighting scenes are amazing and beautifully animated.

The plot, though, is the best bit. It's obviously been thought out carefully. There are sad, meaningful episodes and then there are the lighthearted, fun episodes.

Anyway, if you haven't seen Soul Eater, you must watch it now. Though the first few episodes aren't as good as the rest, it won't take long for you to get hooked.

Avatar is on its own level. It's not just another pointless, plotless story that has a few giggles and kisses to keep you interested. It has a real, powerful, heart-wrenching, intense yet oh-so-carefully soft storyline. The characters feel so real, it's as if they could really breathe. The voice acting is superb. Every tear, fight, and laugh sounds so realistic it's almost unreal. The paths the characters follow are so twisted, with so many chances to take a wrong turn. And the best part? They do. They're human. They make mistakes and feel the grief and self-loathing associated with their decisions. They fight for what they believe in. Every single character will.

Avatar is not just another anime. It has a real-world feel to it. Their world faces the same problems that ours does, just with bending involved.

As a kid, it taught me to respect peace, not to look for a fight or a war. It taught me to fight for what's right, even if I find out later I was wrong. It taught me to work hard, that nothing good ever comes from not trying. And it taught me to be free, to experience the world not just as the place where you survive but where you lead a life, where you can be happy.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is #1. The fight scenes are gorgeously executed and well-researched. The comic relief is actually funny, and you find yourself in fits of laughter more often than you'd think for such a serious plot. The characters are tangible, breathable, real people that you can't help but root for, even if they're the antagonist.

There are plot twists and loss, life-long advice, and unbelievable sadness. There is no better show in any country, in any language, on any planet than Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I have almost watched the series straight through twice now since February 2014, and it's only April. I've watched select episodes over five times each, I'm guessing, and I really enjoy watching this series. I will probably continue to watch it as the months go by despite the shortness of the series.

I wish there had been more episodes because I completed it in about 2 or 3 days when I first got into it. However, I can't control what BONES does (or whoever controls that) and am grateful to have been able to witness the beauty and comedy this series has to offer. My favorite characters are Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, those handsome and very close twin brothers. I loved everyone in the Host Club. I can't believe that I denied watching this series about 7 years ago now, and I am so glad I changed my mind and decided to check it out.

Good story and plot, but the thing that made me love this series to death were the characters. Especially the main characters, Ciel is an adult in an adorable child's body (which I can often relate to), and Sebastian is just too handsome and cunning for his own good. Their rather cold personalities are (as far as I know) quite refreshing in the more mainstream anime.

The combination of detective stories, comedy, and action was near perfect, though Grell takes the cake for the comedy for me personally. I found the second season not nearly as good, and the end was aggravating. No, seriously. Stupid wish.

I used to watch this in the days of Toonami, when the best part about being a kid was fantasy worlds like Nintendo's and stuff. This show stands out because it is deep despite its brevity. It makes me question things about my life and where I'm going. It inspires me to be noble and masterful.

I cried watching this show more than any other. It cuts to the heart. It can be hilarious like no other, philosophical like no other, romantic like no other, intriguing like no other, and epic like no other. I have Ghost Files on DVDs, and they are my greatest treasures. I thank God for the creators of Yu Yu Hakusho!

After having Steins;Gate and Code Geass tied as my top favorite series of all time, I never expected to ever watch an anime again that managed to outrank either of the two. Imagine my surprise when, by a random fluke, some anime that I had never heard of that looked like some cringey cash-in on the initial mobile-phone craze entered into my radar and managed to gradually become my favorite series of all time, managing to safely beat out both Steins;Gate and Code Geass, two series that were both so very good that I couldn't decide between them for years.

This anime is great in so many ways. From the very second episode, at the very least, you just KNOW that something big is up in the story and continuously reform your speculation of just what that something could be with every subsequent episode. The plot manages to keep releasing little insights every episode. In addition, the sheer number of times I expected the show to go one direction and it pulled a 180 and went in another direction I can't even count. The show keeps you guessing at every turn.

The payoff from the last few episodes is absolutely immense. You feel so many emotions, and you are just so emotionally invested in the characters that you simply can't stop marathoning episodes until the whole thing is over. I can satisfyingly say that the understanding of the full meaning of many things in the show cannot be fully comprehended until the very last moment: everything builds to that final understanding.

I cannot overstate just how amazing this series is. Like Steins;Gate, this is one of the few anime series that I can recommend you watch the English dub for: it is very well done, emotion-packed, and the voice acting is never jarring or seemingly out of place. If you enjoyed any combination of Death Note, Steins;Gate, and Code Geass, then you'll be absolutely enthralled by this. Do yourself a favor and take the time to watch through The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki) as soon as you are... more

Inuyasha is one of the popular "first anime" that people typically watch, which eventually motivates them to become a full-blown anime fan. In this case, I'm not surprised. Inuyasha is a story full of emotion and is ranked high on my list of favorite anime. It isn't a typical "shounen" anime, and it isn't obsessed with having fight scenes that last 5 episodes long.

The characters are human (well, even though some of them are demons), and they aren't heartless moving pictures with voices. Speaking of which, I recommend the dub (I'm typically a sub person, though).

All in all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable anime. While some people may not like the somewhat slow pace akin to that of a shounen anime, I recommend Inuyasha wholeheartedly.

Wow, absolutely wow! This anime has to be the best anime I have ever seen. I love the characters, and I could really relate to them. The story that I could relate to the most was Yuri's story. I could relate because, like her, I have two little sisters and a brother. She really is a great example of a fantastic leader despite what had happened to her. She proved that no matter what hardships you go through, you can find peace.

Then there is Yuzuru. He taught me that you always have something to live for. Even when you think that your purpose for living is lost, there will always be one.

Then Kanade. She taught me to never judge a book by its cover. Kanade was always so lonely only because she wanted people to have a normal youth. And yet, everyone fought against her and wanted to hurt her. The thing I noticed about Kanade is that she only used her powers for defense. She was so delicate and never wanted to hurt anyone. Out of all the characters, I see a lot of myself in Kanade.