The best anime series of all time
The top 3 according to 134 votes from people: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood · Cowboy Bebop · Attack on Titan. (Updated Jul 9, 2024.)
TV anime that keep showing up at the top of IGN's all-time ranking, MyAnimeList scores and the lists compiled on Wikipedia's 'anime listed among the best'.
Top 25
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1
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Bones, 2009. The Elric brothers and the Philosopher's Stone; IGN's number one and MyAnimeList's top-rated for years.
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2
Cowboy Bebop
Sunrise, 1998. Bounty hunters in space with Yoko Kanno's jazz; the gateway anime for a generation.
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3
Attack on Titan
Wit Studio / MAPPA, 2013–2023. Humanity behind walls against the titans; one of the most-watched anime ever.
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4
Steins;Gate
White Fox, 2011. A microwave that sends messages to the past and a slow-burning time-travel thriller.
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5
Death Note
Madhouse, 2006. Light Yagami's notebook that kills and the battle of wits with L.
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6
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Madhouse, 2023. An elf mage after the hero's quest is over; it topped MyAnimeList's score ranking.
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7
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
David Production, 2012. Generations of the Joestar family and their Stands; 'weirdly amazing', according to IGN.
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8
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Gainax, 1995. Hideaki Anno's mecha series that turned into a psychological breakdown; still debated today.
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9
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Madhouse, 2011. Gon searches for his father; the Chimera Ant arc is considered a peak of the medium.
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10
Gintama
Sunrise, 2006. Samurai comedy and parody in an Edo invaded by aliens, with surprisingly serious arcs.
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11
Naruto Shippuden
Pierrot, 2007. The second part of Naruto's story, with the Akatsuki and the Fourth Great Ninja War.
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12
One Piece
Toei Animation, 1999–. Luffy's search for the One Piece, with more than 1,100 episodes.
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13
Clannad: After Story
Kyoto Animation, 2008. Tomoya's life after high school; famous for making viewers cry.
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14
Dragon Ball Z
Toei Animation, 1989. Goku, the Saiyans and Frieza; the shōnen that conquered the world.
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15
Mob Psycho 100
Bones, 2016. A shy psychic boy and his fraud of a mentor; from the creator of One-Punch Man.
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16
Mushishi
Artland, 2005. Ginko travels rural Japan studying mushi, ethereal life forms; calm and hypnotic.
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17
Monster
Madhouse, 2004. Naoki Urasawa's psychological thriller about a surgeon chasing the killer he once saved.
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18
Vinland Saga
Wit Studio / MAPPA, 2019. A Viking revenge saga that becomes a story about pacifism.
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19
Jujutsu Kaisen
MAPPA, 2020. Yuji Itadori swallows a cursed finger; one of the biggest hits of recent years.
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20
Haikyu!!
Production I.G, 2014. Volleyball at Karasuno High; the best-loved sports anime.
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21
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Sunrise, 2006. An exiled prince with the power of absolute obedience leads a rebellion.
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22
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
ufotable, 2019. Tanjiro and his demon sister; ufotable's animation made it a global phenomenon.
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23
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Artland, 1988. 110 episodes of space politics and war between the Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
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24
Samurai Champloo
Manglobe, 2004. Shinichirō Watanabe mixes Edo-era samurai with hip-hop.
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25
Your Lie in April
A-1 Pictures, 2014. A piano prodigy who can no longer hear his own playing.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (13)
FMA:B at #1 is the correct answer.
Still the best list of anime on here. FMAB forever.
Frieren season 2 was worth the wait, should be even higher now
Rewatched FMAB this summer and it's still perfect. Nothing has topped it.
Showed Cowboy Bebop to my younger brother this month, he loved it. Classic.
Monster is so underrated, glad to see it here.
One Piece in a list of best series when it's 1000+ episodes... the first arcs are great but nobody has time for that
It gets crazy good after Enies Lobby. Worth every episode.
Where's Gurren Lagann?
FMAB at #1 is the consensus for a reason. Perfect ending.
Monster is so underrated, Johan is the best villain in anime
Frieren already top 13, deserved. Best fantasy anime in years.
and steins gate but where is clannad... oh wait it's there 😭