Top 10 Animes With the Best Animation
Animation in anime isn't just about looking clean and polished. It's about style, movement, and how well the visuals bring the story to life. Some anime go for a hyper-detailed, ultra-fluid approach, while others focus on bold artistic choices that set them apart. From high-octane fight scenes to subtle emotional moments, the best animation draws you in and makes everything feel more intense, beautiful, or just straight-up cool.But what makes animation the best? Some anime stun with near-perfect character motion and lighting effects. Others might not have the most detailed frames but use dynamic camera angles, color, or artistic flourishes to create something unique. Then there are those jaw-dropping action sequences that leave you wondering how the animators even pulled them off.
This list highlights the anime that go above and beyond in animation, no matter the style. So, which ones deserve to be at the top? That's up to you. Vote for the anime you think have the best animation.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is a 2014–2015 action, thriller, fantasy anime based on the visual novel Fate/stay night produced by Type-Moon. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works adapts the Unlimited Blade Works route from the Fate/stay night visual novel. In terms of animation, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is the best you'll ever see, hands down. The movement is just amazing. Even if a character is simply turning their head around, for instance, it will keep me captivated for the entire day.
The detail in the coloring and background art makes it remarkably beautiful and almost impossible to forget. Not to mention the fight scenes - oh my god, the fight scenes! I could rewatch them forever if I could. But it's no surprise, knowing Ufotable is the reason behind this godly show. They also animated Fate/Zero (2011) and The Garden of Sinners (2007), which are two relatively old, yet amazing, series that have better animation than the anime we have today!
Attack on Titan, also known as Shingeki no Kyojin in Japanese, created by Hajime Isayama, is one of the most popular Japanese anime series to be released. It was first watched in Japan during 2013 and was dubbed in English to be watched in America in 2014. It is best known for its emotional moments,... read more Amazing animation! The combat scenes, emotion, lighting, and effects that the animators put into the artwork of this anime just blow me away. The animators are far from lazy with this show, and they put as much effort as they can into the work! 10/10, I highly recommend this anime (not just for the animation, but for the story, too! Although it gets a little nasty at points...).
After season 1, you start to see major improvements to the animation. It gradually gets better and better after watching every episode. It'd be no surprise if you didn't notice any change at all. I was in genuine disbelief after seeing the difference in the first and last episodes.
Fate/Zero is a series of light novels written by Gen Urobuchi, illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi, and is a prequel to Type-Moon's visual novel, Fate/stay night. An anime adaptation of Fate/Zero was jointly produced by Aniplex, nitroplus, Type-Moon, Seikaisha, and Ufotable that ran from 2011-2012. I started watching it recently. I like the theme of this anime. The animation appears to be very high quality. Although I'm not finding the story to be as good as AOT, the animation rivals it.
For those times, just to be something outstanding, that quality...
K shows a variety of textures and motions that are visually appealing. Not only does it give off a bold vibe, but it also gives off a warm vibe. When mixed together, this provides one of the most aesthetic animations I've ever witnessed.
I am surprised that this not-so-mainstream anime made it here and is known for great animation. They incorporated a whole deal of different techniques, and it still looks nice.
One-Punch Man is an ongoing, online, web comic, which was later adapted into a Manga and Anime series . Created by ONE in 2009, It gained popularity, and soon after, went viral in 2012, surpassing 7 . 9 million views . One-Punch Man (OPM for short) focuses on the protagonist Saitama (Who is named after... read more One Punch Man has some of the greatest visuals ever. While using the insane power of Saitama for comedy, the animation somehow also emphasizes it. The visuals and movements are genius and incredibly hard to imagine - let alone animate something as good. Every single punch has a large amount of detail put into it, even in the punches and the air behind it.
At first, I thought someone who destroys anything in one punch would never be well animated, but in truth, the art behind it is genius. Even if you do not enjoy that, the show focuses a lot on side characters who encounter more difficulty when fighting.
Compared to any anime I've ever seen (including the ones at the top of this list), One Punch Man clearly outranks any anime in animation. For example, Attack on Titan has minimal fight scenes, including titan fights which are just surprisingly immobile people fighting with a bit of wind flying off the fists every once in a while.
Additionally, in Attack on Titan, the grapples (whose actual name I have forgotten) are just people flying forward and sliding from time to time for some reason. I know that Attack on Titan is very good with animation, but One Punch Man is a revolution and a great feat - especially compared to what there was in those days.
Oh dang, one of my personal favorite anime is ranked this high? That is awesome to me!
God Eater is an anime adaptation of the God Eater video game series. It is animated by Ufotable and began airing on July 12, 2015 after a one-week delay. All I can say is that this anime's quality is top-notch. While I was watching this series, it looked like fan art the whole way through. The detail put into the animation was so intense. Best anime of the 21st century.
God Eater's animation is different from many other animes. That's why I think it's better and unique.
Violet Evergarden (Japanese: ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン, Hepburn: Vaioretto Evāgāden) is a Japanese light novel series. It was written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. The series won the grand prize in the fifth Kyoto Animation Award's novel category in 2014... read more The animation can convey more emotion than words. Never before have I seen an animated gemstone appear to be alive simply through how the light reflecting off of it is animated. Never before have I seen animated water look so fluid. Never before have I watched a series that made me cry in over half of its episodes. This is one of the most visually appealing shows I've ever seen.
I was looking for something else but saw that Violet Evergarden is #17. It has by far way better animation than all the other ones above. I don't even know why more than half of them are there. Like SNK, Guilty Crown, God Eater, Overlord? Is this going with popularity or actually good animation? Anyway, this one deserves more votes.
Guilty Crown is a 2011 Japanese anime television series produced by Production I.G which aired on Fuji TV's noitamina program block from October 2011. The story revolves around Shu Ouma, a high school boy who inadvertently obtains an ability called "Power of the King" that enables him to draw out items... read more Not only the animation but the music is the best you're ever going to get in anime, period.
Sword Art Online is a series of Japanese light novels written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. In 2012, it received an anime adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures and the SAO Project, and is directed by Tomohiko Ito . The first season is divided into two arcs known as "Aincrad" and "Fairy Dance"... read more A-1 Pictures does a great job animating Sword Art Online! The action sequences are well-choreographed, the animation is consistent, and the characters and virtual worlds are beautifully designed.
Beat that, Log Horizon!
Of all the anime series I've watched, this is the best anime with the best animation ever! To me, the animation is better than Attack on Titan, but only by a hair. SAO and AOT rock!
SAO may get its fair share of hate, but you can't deny how beautiful the animation is.
The Newcomers
The animation in this is nothing short of insane. This is one of the best, and I mean best, animes I've watched just due to the animation alone. Not only does this anime have an amazing plot and lovable characters, but it also has some of the best visuals out there to date.
I don't understand why this isn't in the top 10 already! Just rewatch it or something, people! If we set storylines aside and talk only about animation, this is indeed a demon! Hands down, it has the best quality and most fluid animation ever!
This show is just awesome. It shows all the backstories of the demons and how much the demons went through when they were human.
Episode 19 was especially incredible - the animation was on point. Because of this, it is now one of my favorites.
Jujutsu Kaisen quite literally has the best animation, and there aren't many anime that can top it in terms of animation quality.
Hellsing is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Hellsing Organization, as it combats vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural foes who threaten England.
Death Note is a Japanese television drama anime series based on the manga series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.
The show is centered around Light Yagami - a promising highschooler and aspiring detective with a strong sense of "justice". The budget for each episode was high, in the 100k range in US dollars per episode, so rest assured that the animation is top quality.
This show never fails to capture your focus, entrapping you in the world the writers and animators have created. There is nothing better than watching a good anime with a good plot and animation in the dark, comfy, and relaxed. Death Note does this with great success.
More realistic animation than others.
Mob Psycho 100 is a Japanese anime series based on the manga of the same name by ONE. Premiering in 2016, the show revolves around Shigeo Kageyama, a high school student with extraordinary psychic abilities. Despite his powers, Shigeo prefers a normal life but is often pulled into various supernatural... read more Honestly, one of the most fluid-looking animation styles I have ever seen, on par with that of titles such as Kimetsu No Yaiba and Jujutsu Kaisen. Every time I see a scene, no matter what episode or season, Bones' animation truly blows me away, including the fact that they over-animate the most unsuspecting scenes. 10/10
The art style can really work with going off-model and not be weird. The animation is always on point with the intensity of the scene. To get what I mean, just watch Season 2 Episode 5. Such amazing visuals, and you can follow every movement - it's just so good.
Cowboy Bebop is a 1998 anime television series animated by Sunrise featuring a production team led by director Shinichirō Watanabe, screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto, character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto, mechanical designer Kimitoshi Yamane, and composer Yoko Kanno.
Samurai Champloo is a Japanese anime series developed by Manglobe. Samurai Champloo is set in an alternate version of Edo-era Japan with an anachronistic, predominantly hip hop, setting. It follows Mugen, an impudent and freedom-loving vagrant swordsman; Jin, a composed and stoic rōnin; and Fuu, a... read more While all of the other anime on this list have great animation and deserve to be here, this one completely dominates all others in terms of animation. But the best thing about it is the brilliantly insane idea to set the series in the beautiful setting of Edo-period Japan and animate it with a one-of-a-kind hip-hop style that can never be truly replicated.
The true beauty of this anime lies in its fight scenes, which are stupendously over-the-top and are works of art in their own right. Seriously, Samurai Champloo is absolutely gorgeous. Just look up any one of its many fight scenes on YouTube and try to argue that it isn't.
I'm up to the third season of this anime, and I've only been watching for a few days. Not only am I invested in the plot, but I'm also invested in all the characters' developments as the series progresses. This anime not only carries in its animation, but its plot is also another strong point.
Airing in 2016, this anime series is adapted from a manga by Gamon Sakurai. The story delves into the existence of Ajin, immortal beings who are hunted by governments worldwide. The show is acclaimed for its exploration of morality and human rights themes.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime series adapted from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa. Despite being made during 2009, this show's animation was the best!
Angel Beats! is a 13-episode Japanese anime television series produced by P.A.Works and Aniplex and directed by Seiji Kishi.
Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Sui Ishida. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump between September 2011 and September 2014, and it has been collected in fourteen tankōbon volumes as of August 2014. This, Sword Art Online, and One Punch Man are by far the best-animated anime series I've ever seen! I love that Kaneki boy and can't wait for season 3 to be completed.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is an anime and manga franchise originally written by Hirohiko Araki. It centers around the perilous journey of the members of the legendary Joestar bloodline. This is an anime with an incredibly unique art style that admittedly takes a bit to get used to. Once you do, however, you will begin to see how incredibly fluid and well-animated basically every fight scene is, and how much work painstakingly went into choreographing them.
I haven't watched this yet, but the hype led me to some clips. They show off some flashy visuals and an appealing plot that I know I'm going to invest a lot of time into in the future.
Very unique and incredible art style. If you watch closely during the fight scenes, it has many aspects that are mostly seen in movies, which are incredibly hard to make. This one deserves to be in the top 10, in my opinion.
Naruto is an anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. The manga was later adapted into a television anime, which was produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex. It premiered across Japan on the terrestrial TV Tokyo and other TX Network stations on October 3, 2002. The first series... read more I have only recently started Naruto, but I really love the way they animate the scenes! The story is also really nice, and I think Naruto is one of my favorite animes ever. I recommend it!
Amazing! No words can describe the vibe this show gives off. The animation is classic, and the plot is gold.
Baccano! (バッカーノ!), which Narita translates as 'stupid commotion', is Italian for 'ruckus'. An ongoing light novel series with over twenty volumes published, it takes place across three eras – the early 1700s, 1930s, and 2000s – and presents its story arcs in anachronistic fashion. Though... read more Baccano! has to be one of the best shows I've ever seen. Almost everything about this show is incredibly underrated, especially its animation.
Psycho-Pass is an anime television series that was produced by Production I.G, directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani & Katsuyuki Motohiro and written by Gen Urobuchi.
Gurren Lagann, known in Japan as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, is an anime series animated by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. It was also directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by veteran playwright Kazuki Nakashima. Honestly, it's so well executed that I can't help but love it.