Most Popular Anime Shows Ranked Posted Sep 22, 2021
Anime television shows initially gained appeal outside Japan in the 1980s, and today they are popular to watch on TV in the West. Several well-known anime series from Japan, such as Cowboy Bebop and Dragon Ball Z, have found an enthusiastic following in English-speaking nations after being dubbed. Because anime has become so popular worldwide, it has begun to have a considerable impact on the style and aesthetics of animation in other nations. In terms of speed, subject matter, and design, shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Afro Samurai, and Samurai Jack have firmly taken from anime.
All of our recommendations for the finest anime cater to a wide range of tastes, so you should be able to find something that suits your preference. Likewise, we cover a wide range of genres, and while there are a few obvious selections, there are also a few obscure anime series included.
1. Cowboy Bebop
Every argument over whether Shinichiro Watanabe's science-fiction classic Cowboy Bebop is the apex of anime is semantic. Without a doubt it is the peak. Its unique blend of cyberpunk intrigue, Western atmosphere, martial arts action, and noir cool is unrivalled and universally appealing. It has universally understandable existential and traumatic themes. Its characters are complex and imperfect, yet they still exude calm. It depicts a future that is ethnically diverse and frighteningly prescient.
Its English dub, which features some of America's best full-time voiceover talent, manages to match the subtitled Japanese-language original in specific ways. Its 26-episode run was near-perfect, and episodes that may have been filler in another series are compact, taut, and serve the show's thesis while remaining unobtrusive to the broader plot, which itself is captivating but not oppressive. It's easy to use for newcomers, and it continues to reward veterans with each watch.
2. Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru shows the attractiveness of karuta (a card game based on memorising poetry) through its no-nonsense heroine Chihaya, who, once she likes something sticks up for it no matter what. It also portrays karuta in a way that makes you wonder how, of all things, this game works so well in an anime. If it doesn't sound particularly riveting, that's part of the show's appeal: it recognises that it has a lot of work ahead of it in explaining a relatively obscure game to its characters and viewers. Sure, it's all a little niche, but that's part of the charm. You'll be introduced to a facet of Japanese culture that you might otherwise have overlooked.
3. Attack on Titan
After the enormous humanoid Titans demolish his community and kill his mother, Eren Jaeger pledges to exterminate all the giant humanoid Titans on Earth. The graphics, fantastic storyline, and mood in this TV series make it so distinctive and are the reasons why most anime fans adore it. Even though the original Attack on Titan only had 25 episodes, the gripping storyline and overall production has made it as popular as the longest-running anime series.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Most anime series struggle to balance a cast of memorable characters, iconic moments, and spectacular fights while laying out elaborate world-building. And it is for this reason that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is so unique. Sympathy serves as a framing technique for our arrival into this vast universe. We can see why the Elric brothers would engage in unlawful alchemy to resurrect their mother, even if it meant sacrificing their physical selves.
They persist in their search despite supernatural intervention slapping them in the face and telling them not to. And their desire to restore their mother provides them with the impetus they need to navigate a world filled with monsters, political conspiracies, and divine intervention. But, despite its elegance, FMA: Brotherhood also knows when to let it all hang out in unforgettable moments that will have you cheering for the Elric brothers in front of your TV.
5. Cannon Busters
Before Yasuke, in 2005, animator LeSean Thomas released a fantasy comic book series about an immortal criminal with a transforming pink Cadillac who teams up with a droid duet to search for a missing prince. Thomas was able to turn the comic into an anime series thanks to Kickstarter, and we now have a fantasy story that is humorous, lively, respectful, and crazy in all the right ways.
Thomas was born and raised in New York City but moved to Japan to pursue his passion for anime and advance his career in animation. Cannon Busters has numerous references to the anime works that have influenced him. According to Thomas, there will undoubtedly be a second season of the anime.
