Top 20 Anime Everyone Needs To Watch

If you are looking for a starting line into anime or want a smarter watchlist, this roundup gathers essential series and films across genres, eras, and styles. You will find landmark space westerns, mind bending sci fi, sweeping fantasy adventures, grounded thrillers, and a few beautifully animated films. Each pick includes what it is about, the creators behind it, and what made it stand out. Use it to fill gaps in your viewing or to plan a balanced marathon that touches every major corner of the medium.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

This dark fantasy follows humanity inside walled cities after giant man eating Titans push civilization to the brink. It adapts Hajime Isayama’s manga with direction from Wit Studio then MAPPA across later seasons. The series layers political intrigue and mystery over large scale action and shifting alliances. Its arcs build toward revelations about the world, the origin of the Titans, and the cost of survival.

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ (2009–2010)

Two brothers use alchemy to search for the Philosopher’s Stone after a forbidden ritual goes wrong. The adaptation closely follows Hiromu Arakawa’s manga from start to finish with Bones handling animation. It blends state alchemy, automail prosthetics, and military politics into a tightly plotted adventure. The story spans multiple nations, a cast of state alchemists, and the hidden goals of the Homunculi.

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

A high school prodigy finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. The cat and mouse duel between Light Yagami and the detective L anchors the series. Madhouse animates the psychological thriller with sharp visual motifs tied to rules of the notebook. The plot explores jurisdiction, ethics of vigilantism, and the limits of deductive reasoning.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

This space western follows bounty hunters aboard the Bebop as they chase criminals across the solar system. Director Shinichiro Watanabe blends noir stories with jazz and blues from composer Yoko Kanno. Standalone episodes gradually reveal each crew member’s past, including syndicate ties and lost love. Its mix of genre vignettes and cinematic framing set a template for later original anime.

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)

Teen pilots battle mysterious beings known as Angels using biomechanical units called Evas. Hideaki Anno’s direction weaves mecha action with psychological and religious imagery. The production’s evolving circumstances shaped experimental storytelling in the final stretch. The franchise later expanded with films that reframe key events and character arcs.

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

A young girl enters a spirit bathhouse after her parents are transformed and must work to free them. Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki craft a fantasy world filled with yokai, soot sprites, and a river spirit. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a landmark for anime worldwide. Its setting draws on Japanese folklore and hand drawn artistry in every scene.

‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

An exiled prince becomes entangled in a conflict between forest gods and an ironworking settlement. The film examines industrial growth, resource use, and the balance between humans and nature. Studio Ghibli delivers large scale battles with mythic creatures and intricate backgrounds. The production used both traditional animation and digital compositing for sweeping environmental sequences.

‘Your Name.’ (2016)

Two teenagers begin swapping bodies and search for each other across distance and memory. Director Makoto Shinkai combines romance, time shifts, and a comet disaster thread. The film became one of the highest grossing anime features globally. Its visuals highlight rural shrines, cityscapes, and threads of Shinto custom woven into modern life.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ (2019–present)

A boy joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his family is attacked and his sister is turned into a demon. Ufotable’s adaptation is known for its vivid sword forms and breathing techniques. The story moves through selection exams, mission arcs, and the hierarchy of Hashira leaders. The franchise includes a feature film that continues the story between seasons.

‘One Piece’ (1999–present)

Monkey D Luffy and the Straw Hat crew sail the Grand Line in search of the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. The anime adapts Eiichiro Oda’s long running manga with Toei Animation. Power systems revolve around Devil Fruits, Haki, and the politics of Marines, pirates, and world government. Arcs explore distinct islands with unique cultures, laws, and conflicts.

‘Naruto Shippūden’ (2007–2017)

This continuation follows Naruto Uzumaki as he trains to protect his village and confronts the Akatsuki organization. The shinobi world uses chakra for techniques that range from illusions to elemental jutsu. Storylines cover team dynamics, legacy of tailed beasts, and the history of hidden villages. Long arcs culminate in global alliances and revelations about ancient figures.

‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–present)

In a world where most people have Quirks, a powerless boy inherits a transferable ability and enters U A High. The series tracks hero training, licensing exams, and clashes with villain factions. Bones animates large cast battles, internships, and public perception of pro heroes. The narrative examines hero society, media influence, and the burden of inherited power.

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014)

Gon Freecss sets out to become a Hunter and find his father while forming bonds with Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio. The series builds distinct arcs such as the Hunter Exam, Yorknew City, and Chimera Ant. Nen defines its power system with rules for categories, conditions, and contracts. Madhouse delivers careful pacing, strategy heavy fights, and shifting moral lines.

‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)

A group of friends accidentally create a way to send messages to the past using a microwave and a phone. The plot uses branching timelines and convergence points tied to small changes in early messages. SERN inspired surveillance and the search for the IBN 5100 computer drive key events. The story gradually shifts from light experiments to urgent timeline corrections.

‘Made in Abyss’ (2017–present)

An orphaned girl and a robot boy descend into a vast pit filled with relics and dangerous creatures. The setting introduces layers with different ecosystems and a curse that worsens on ascent. Kinema Citrus balances child adventurers with unsettling biological and ethical discoveries. Artifacts, delvers, and white whistle explorers define a society built around the Abyss.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020–present)

A student swallows a cursed object and joins a school for sorcerers to fight malevolent spirits. MAPPA animates modern Tokyo battlegrounds, domain expansions, and intricate fight choreography. The world runs on cursed energy with techniques passed down through clans and mentors. The franchise includes a prequel film that focuses on an earlier student and a pivotal curse.

‘Violet Evergarden’ (2018)

A former child soldier works as an Auto Memory Doll, ghostwriting letters that express feelings she struggles to understand. Kyoto Animation presents carefully rendered settings, costumes, and quiet character moments. The episodic structure follows clients across towns, theaters, and military hospitals. The series later received theatrical releases that continue Violet’s personal journey.

‘Monster’ (2004–2005)

A surgeon’s decision to save a boy instead of a politician draws him into a years long investigation across Europe. The thriller adapts Naoki Urasawa’s manga with a grounded tone and realistic settings. The narrative traces conspiracies linked to an orphan program and a figure known as Johan. Episodes build tension through interviews, police work, and moral dilemmas.

‘Gurren Lagann’ (2007)

Two friends from an underground village pilot a drill shaped mecha and break through to the surface. Gainax delivers escalating battles and a vocabulary of spiral energy and gunmen. The story moves from rebellion against oppressive rule to large scale space conflict. Character arcs explore mentorship, grief, and the will to push forward.

‘Haikyu!!’ (2014–2020)

This sports series follows Karasuno High’s volleyball team as they rebuild and aim for nationals. The matches emphasize rotations, positions, and strategies like quick sets and synchronized attacks. Character development charts first years, captains, and rival schools across tournaments. The franchise includes films that adapt key match arcs with updated animation.

Share your favorites from the list or the ones we missed in the comments so everyone can build an even better watchlist together.