Top 10 Best Modern Anime Episodes
This is a generalized list about all modern anime episodes. I would like everyone to follow some ground rules in this list. This will help making the list more accurate and diverse.Voting:
I don't think we need any rules for voting. Vote as you like. But while voting, try to vote for the episode that is actually good rather than the episode which you have a special attraction to or which are popular. Try to eliminate the nostalgia-factor as much as possible. And please don't show favoritism towards any certain anime.
Comments:
- Comments can have SPOILERS and there will be no rules against it. So if you haven't watched an episode, read comments at your own risk.
- When adding comments, try to describe why you like the episode.
- Be respectful to others.
Adding Items:
- The criteria for an episode to be 'modern' is that it was released after the internationalization of anime (particularly by Dragon Ball Z).
- Before adding an episode, please make sure your episode truly deserves to be in this list. View some ratings. Talk to other weebs. Re-watch the episode to check if it's as good as the first impression says. Go through this list and try to compare it with the existing items. I personally think that if you've watched half of the items which are in this list, you're experienced enough to truly understand the quality of an episode.
- When adding a new episode, follow the naming format as the rest of the items in this list.
- For the name of the episode and the anime, try to use the English Dub version. Like "Confrontation" from Death Note instead of "Taiketsu".
- Try not to be repetitive. Avoid adding episodes which tell the same story. For example, I added the episode "Climax" from My Hero Academia and so skipped the previous episode "Hero Killer: Stain vs U.A. Students". From Attack On Titan Season 4, I added "Assault" but not "The War Hammer Titan" because the two episodes tell the same story. However, although "Perfect Game" and "Hero" are two adjacent episodes from Attack On Titan Season 3, they have some distinguishable features (and both are phenomenal episodes). That's why, they are both added.
- When a new episode comes out, wait for the next 2/3 episodes to come out before adding it on this list. This is because whenever a good episode comes out, it is sometimes followed by an even better one that tells the same story. So, to preserve the previous rule and prevent the list from being repetitive, this rule will help a lot.
- Add an image when you add a new episode. The image should be attractive but also as SPOILER-free as possible.
Remixing:
- Read the first rule of adding items. If you don't think you're properly experienced, please don't remix the list.
- You should read the entire list before remixing it. Before starting the remix, read the set of rules again.
- There should be at least 9 different anime in your top 10. Check Rage6868242's list for example. In that top ten, there are 2 episodes from Cowboy Bebop, but the other 8 episodes in the top 10 are from 8 different anime.
The greatest episode in the history of anime. Nothing comes close!
The ending is a pure masterpiece. Nothing comes close to it!
Legendary ending to a legendary anime!
Oh... My... God!
Best episode of the series so far. Excellent animation, excellent structure. This is how all battle episodes should be! Someone rooting for Todoroki instead of the main protagonist could really see Izuku as a terrifying opponent.
It was a battle where both opponents were scary to each other, keeping the viewer excited for what would happen next. The flashbacks were really well-timed, and the scenes with special animation and soundtrack were excellent, especially Todoroki using his fire quirk with the flashbacks, or the final blow between him and Izuku. Best episode ever!
What can be said about this, the last episode of Cowboy Bebop? The series, which is so memorable for its combination of great characters, storytelling, and pure fun and action, blends everything together in its finale and goes out with a bang.
It's a show with so many memorable moments, and so many of those moments come in this episode. For example, there's a death fairly early on that ends up unveiling the motives of a major character's actions - but not in the way you might think. The moment his motives are revealed is so well written and executed that it gives one chills.
Another scene has Faye Valentine pleading with Spike not to face his nemesis. In a lesser anime, she'd have fallen in love with him. It would have felt forced, feeding us a motive. But this show is intelligent enough, trusts its audience enough, and knows its characters well enough to write the scene as it ought to be written. Faye, a character without a past, isn't in love with Spike but is acknowledging that he and the Bebop crew are all she has. The scene is heartbreaking and delivered with perfect restraint.
Those are just two moments in this episode. The ending brings even the most jaded fans to tears - and again, not in ways you expect.
A perfect conclusion to a masterpiece series.
The moment when everything clicks from the first episode and you realize exactly what happened on July 28th, 2010, at the Radio Tower is the best scene in all of anime.
This is just one example of the excellent storytelling in this masterpiece of an anime.
Death Note is one of the best anime in the world. There are many great episodes in Death Note, but the best of the best has to be Episode 2, Confrontation (Taiketsu). It builds up Light as a mastermind by showing how brilliantly he hides the Death Note. Light continues his mission of killing criminals, and slowly, the world starts to notice.
But the defining moment of the episode is the introduction of L. In a matter of minutes, the mysterious and genius L proves Kira's existence in front of the world and narrows down his location! This marked the beginning of the greatest cat-and-mouse chase in anime history.
In Ryuk's words: "Each of them has to hunt down the other without knowing the other's name or face. And the first one whose identity is revealed will die. Humans are so much fun."
After years of searching, Hiei finally returns to his homeland. He clearly remembers the traumatic banishment he was forced to endure. Despite his many losses, one thing was never far from his mind: complete and utter revenge!
But to complete his mission, Hiei must first survive an encounter with yet another demon from his past. "Haunted by the Past" serves as a deep dive into Hiei's history, as we see how his own kind abandoned him as a child. We also learn a bit about the history of Hiei's Jagan Eye.
This tearjerker of an episode forces the viewer to sympathize with Hiei as we learn how he became the sadistic demon addicted to murder.
This is arguably the best episode of the entire series, which is, without a doubt, a masterpiece of a show.
After four average episodes, Ballad of Fallen Angels comes as a tornado and takes everyone by surprise. The story delves into Spike's past and his inability to escape it. His story is told in a way that can be described in no other words but brilliantly. This episode also introduces his arch-nemesis, who captures the role of a ruthless villain beautifully.
The episode starts strong and takes viewers on a roller coaster ride. The soundtrack is masterfully done, capturing every moment perfectly. The entire episode is full of thrill, tension, and emotion. And the church shootout is certainly one of the most iconic scenes of the whole series. Overall, this episode really shows what Bebop is all about and approaches near perfection.
Armin and Eren vs. Colossal Titan, Mikasa and the Survey Corps vs. Armored Titan, and Levi vs. Beast Titan - everything that was promised was delivered in one episode with stunning visuals and incredible execution.
This episode had everything we love about Attack on Titan, and there should be no doubt that this is the best episode of the series. There's a reason it was rated 10/10 on IMDb!
One of the best TV show episodes ever created. It's up there with the best episodes from Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and Gravity Falls.
This episode reveals the story of Homura. Here, everything from the very first scene of the anime makes complete sense. As it turns out, all the madness we've seen in the first nine episodes is nothing but an average loop of Homura's endless cycle of despair.
There are so many shocking plot twists, and each one is executed masterfully. Despite its beautiful storytelling, this is arguably the darkest and most depressing episode ever made in any form of media.
Watching this episode basically means torturing yourself psychologically. But Homura's resolve to save Madoka from becoming a witch is one unforgettable tale.
This episode is dark, it's depressing, but it's also beautiful.
I couldn't have imagined an ending more heartbreaking and emotional than this. This is not just an anime episode - this is a piece of art. It seems that all of those 21 previous episodes were made just for this last one.
I thank those who created this anime for giving me such a beautiful and unforgettable experience.
Lieutenant Hawkeye is fighting the homunculus Gluttony while Alphonse continues his search for the mysterious lab. Due to Gluttony's regenerating powers, he is exceptionally difficult to kill, and he eventually corners Hawkeye. At that moment, Mustang and Fuery rush in and manage to save her.
Alphonse then joins the squad, and they continue their mission. Soon after, Roy and Havoc are confronted by Lust, who nearly kills them. Lust then attempts to kill both Alphonse and Hawkeye, but just before she can, an injured Mustang incinerates her. This was one of the most satisfying moments in anime history!
People may be wondering how a fight that's not even half as long as most Naruto fights, and also doesn't involve any main characters, makes it into everyone's top lists. But the battle between Rock Lee and Gaara had been in the making throughout the entire Chunin Exam arc. It developed a fantastic story from their first appearances to their meeting.
Rock Lee, the comic relief, had a lot more to him than we ever imagined. Gaara, with his overwhelming strength and villainy, was captured well through his voice and mannerisms. This was the clash of two very different characters: one gifted with an ultimate defense and the ultimate killing jutsu, and the other endowed with tenacity and a pure heart.
These factors combined to make this one of the best fights in Naruto. It made us believe in Rock Lee, and made us want Gaara to get his just desserts and root for his demise. Gaara vs. Rock Lee wasn't just a fight - it was a story in itself, and I think that's why it'll never be forgotten. The story of this fight will be told for years to come, and it'll never grow stale.
The smile on Netero's face is just terrifying. I almost feel bad rooting for humanity - that's how crazy this episode is!
Meruem and Netero, arguably the two most powerful beings in the Hunter x Hunter anime, engaged in a remarkable spectacle of a battle that exceeded all expectations. It was the confrontation everyone had been eagerly awaiting since the King's birth. After all, someone had to put an end to his tyrannical rule before he brought the world to its knees.
Netero sticking two fingers into his chest and triggering his last-resort move, the Miniature Rose, was both awe-inspiring and tragic. It was a sacrifice we'll probably never get over.
Charlotte was a regular slice-of-life anime about a group of teenagers with special abilities finding others like them and deterring them from abusing their powers. In each episode, they met new ability users and discovered their stories. It was just a fun-to-watch anime with a nice story and cool characters. However, at the end of Episode 6, Yu Otosaka and his sister Ayumi experienced a tragic accident.
This episode begins with our protagonist, Yu, waking up in a hospital bed and learning that his little sister is no longer alive. Yu begins to mourn her loss, but very soon, that grief turns into regret. Despite Ayumi caring for him deeply, he feels he couldn't protect her or repay her in any way. Though Yu also loved Ayumi, he begins to blame himself, realizing that none of these feelings surfaced until it was too late.
Then the episode takes a sudden turn, and things go from 0 to 100 quickly!
Yu isolates himself in his apartment, doing nothing all day but sulking in the dark. Despite visits from friends and even an old flame, he doesn't snap out of his depression. Instead, he runs away and slowly finds himself going down a dangerous path. It starts with an addiction to a violent shooting game, which later leads to real street brawls that are disturbing to watch. Yu has thrown away all the personal growth he experienced earlier in the series, devolving into something even worse than the selfish cheater he was at the beginning. He goes on a rampage, abusing his powers and viciously attacking anyone who gets in his way. At one point, he steals drugs from a thug and is prepared to use them - until an unexpected savior kicks him in the face!
This is probably the most harrowing anime episode ever! Charlotte may not have been the best anime of all time (though it is still excellent), but this episode hits differently. It's undoubtedly the series' darkest yet best episode.
Yu's breakdown was executed masterfully, presented in a... more
Spike and Jet decide to search for a debt collector after receiving a suspicious package containing a beta cassette in order to learn more about the device's origins. However, over time, it is revealed that the cassette ties directly into Faye Valentine's past.
One of the most heart-wrenching episodes in the entire series, it not only adds depth to the sultry Faye Valentine, but also exemplifies what Cowboy Bebop excels at - the development of its characters.
This episode never ceases to make me cry.
Something about seeing a character's long-lost past is just incredibly heartbreaking to me. We see Faye's childhood from before the accident over 60 years ago. Just about everything seen in those cassette tapes is long gone. Her old home, her friends, her hometown - pretty much all of it is gone, only preserved in the old video tapes.
I highly recommend this episode, but bring tissues.
Ash and the group get enveloped in a strange mist where the boundaries between the real world and the afterlife blur. Ash and Torracat reunite with Stoutland, Torracat's mentor.
Inside the mist, Lillie and Gladion start searching for their lost father. Mallow, on the other hand, doesn't want to meet her mother because the last words her mother heard from her were, "I hate you."
This is one of the saddest but also sweetest anime episodes I've ever seen! It's a pure tear-jerker where you'll cry tears of both sadness and happiness.
After killing off six members of Team Dai-Gurren in the first battle that took place in the previous episode, the Anti-Spirals push the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren into the Galactic Spiral Abyss. The entire team is trapped, and all their weapons are powerless against it. The Galactic Spiral Abyss absorbs the Spiral power, and a Death Spiral Machine at its heart turns that power into mass, which in turn creates a sea of super-dense space. The sea acts like quicksand - the harder they try to escape, the denser the field around them becomes, pulling them in further. Lordgenome notes that if the SGDG reaches the bottom of the sea, they are all dead.
Not only that, the Anti-Spirals reveal that the sea is the graveyard of past Spiral races that fought against them. Leeron eloquently describes it as a sea filled with the tears of Spirals. The members of Team Dai-Gurren realize they are not the first to confront the Anti-Spirals. Many have tried before, and all have failed. Moreover, everything they have done, every sacrifice they have made, and all their efforts and accomplishments will not only go in vain but also be used as a force against any future Spiral warriors who may fight for freedom. This ultimate trap perfectly encapsulates the Anti-Spirals' theme of absolute despair.
Simon tirelessly generates Spiral energy, but as the ship moves downward, he loses focus, and the drill breaks, injuring him. Meanwhile, Kittan realizes he must go out and take the Anti-Spirals' hands and feet off the ship. Gimmy tries to stop him, unable to understand Kittan's bravery. Gimmy wants to go out guns blazing but finds himself too scared and hates his fear. Kittan reveals that he's terrified too but keeps moving forward because it's the only thing he's good at.
Kittan tells Gimmy and Darry that Jorgun and Balinbow sacrificed themselves by choice - there's no need for either of them to feel they owe the dead twins a debt. This conversation is quite moving, especially... more
This episode showcased the moment we've all been waiting for - L and Light finally meet face to face in an unexpected turn of events.
So unexpected and audacious, in fact, that at first, one wonders if it's a dream sequence. But no, L walks right up to Light and introduces himself, studying him for a reaction. It worked. While mostly stoic, Light was completely caught off guard. This exceptionally well-written scene is unprecedented for an anime TV show - feature film caliber, surprising and masterfully done. Score one for L. Although, we all know it won't be long before Light retaliates with a deadly strategic move.
This episode features great shots, tension (especially in that scene), and a very interesting color palette. Here, Light gets serious about defeating L and is totally determined to kill him. That laugh at the end is really great!
The first episode of Yu Yu Hakusho is basically a sucker punch!
Yu Yu Hakusho is a true gold-standard shounen that stands the test of time. The first episode of this series is one of the most emotional episodes in all of anime. It's an incredible episode, well-structured and introducing multiple characters, all of whom have depth. Accomplishing that alone in the first episode is something I can't recall seeing in many other anime. But YYH does even more to ensure that viewers get completely hooked.
After saving a young boy from getting hit by a car, the infamous delinquent Yusuke Urameshi dies after getting hit himself. Moments later, he meets the Grim Reaper and gets a chance to get his life back. However, Yusuke rejects the offer, thinking the world would be better off without him. But after witnessing his emotional funeral, Yusuke realizes how much he means to everyone and how valuable his life is. It's a touching scene that sets Yusuke up as an unlikely hero on a quest for moral redemption.
Not much needs to be said about this unforgettable tear-jerker. It's quite possibly the saddest episode in all of anime.
A tearjerker through and through - an episode where everyone, including the audience, sees why All Might is the hero of heroes.
This episode showcases The Symbol of Peace's last embers as he faces off against his nemesis in a final showdown. What a showdown it turned out to be! Easily the biggest fight in the entire My Hero Academia series so far. Even though he was severely injured, All Might saved the day once more before passing the heroism torch to the next generation. Now it's your turn, Deku.
This episode was so epic! I got chills multiple times, and although I've seen it many times, I can never get tired of it. This episode holds some of the best anime moments of all time!
Not only was this episode highly anticipated, but it was also downright heartbreaking.
Becoming a victim of the situation, Sanji quit his job as the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates and viciously attacked Luffy. The much-awaited duel between Luffy and Sanji was one-sided, as the Straw Hat captain decided not to fight back against his friend. Despite receiving serious damage, Luffy didn't dodge or use Haki to defend himself. Nami couldn't bear watching her friends fight, and tears started falling from her eyes.
Sanji then launched his special attack, successfully knocking Luffy out. Nami approached Sanji, slapped him, and said goodbye. On their way to the Whole Cake Chateau, Sanji couldn't help but cry, knowing he couldn't disobey his father's orders. Meanwhile, danger awaited Luffy and Nami as the Big Mom Pirates were closing in, ready to avenge Cracker's defeat.
I loved how Toguro was introduced as a mere thug before being revealed as the real deal (and by that, I mean the coolest anime villain ever). His ability is masterfully uncomplicated, yet combined with intelligence and ruthlessness.
Watching this back in the day gave me one of my first "OH $#!T" moments in anime. Just the sound of those shattered pillars makes Toguro the scariest anime villain ever. He was intimidating in a way that made everything before feel like kid stuff. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Yusuke has ever been this scared - this flat-out terrified - ever before or since!
After this episode, I have no doubts in my mind that Roger was the greatest pirate that ever lived - not because he found the One Piece or because of his strength, but because of the kind of man that he was. He was and will forever be (until Luffy surpasses him) the greatest pirate of all time.
But...
What is One Piece? An endless and priceless treasure? The truth about the ancient weapons? The Void Century? Yes, it is all of that but much more. What could be greater than all of that? Well, Roger understood it as soon as he saw it. And he laughed - laughed so hard that tears were pouring out of his eyes.
Maybe the most important part about One Piece is not the power it holds or the answers it provides, but what it represents. And that is laughter! A tale of laughter. The most incredible and funny story you could imagine. The greatest adventure of all time! And that is not only the One Piece treasure but also the show called One Piece. This right here is the heart and soul of One Piece.
We might not know exactly what One Piece is, but now we know that it represents the greatest and funniest story ever told. After all, isn't that what this show is about? It's not about the mysteries of who the strongest pirates are, or even about the major conflicts of the story. One Piece is an endless adventure full of laughs. And maybe, if that happiness is what the One Piece truly is, wouldn't that make it the greatest treasure of all time?
A fitting title for the episode that saw the Hero Killer: Stain, be defeated by the students of U.A.
The episode opens with the kids struggling against Stain as he seeks to purge Tenya and Native. However, the students quickly realize that Stain is not suited for a drawn-out battle against multiple opponents and begin to stall him. Meanwhile, the Nomus are wreaking havoc throughout the city, even with the assistance of Endeavor and Gran Torino.
When Iida regains his movement in the alley, the students manage to turn the tide, and a beautifully orchestrated combination brings Stain down for the count. This episode is amazing and will be remembered as the birth of Stain's ideology.