1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
The advent of a shockingly quality anime surprised anime fans all over the world in 2019. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃) is adapted into an anime from the manga by Koyoharu Gotoge, which was serialized on the Weekly Shonen Jump from 2016. The first season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba with 26 episodes was welcomed by both fans of the manga and people who had not read it.
The anime is set in the Taisho period (1912-1926) in Japan where demons exist with human beings. The main character Tanjiro Kamado finds his family is killed by the attack of demons and only his sister Nezuko is changed into a demon. He decides to become a demon slayer to restore her to a human.
This anime includes every important part for an excellent anime from the main character’s purity and growing to friends with the spirit of brotherhood and respect for any characters. The battle scenes between demon slayers with swords and unique demon characters are intense, which is beautifully drawn. Each character’s past and background including even demons is respectfully depicted in this anime.
It is followed by the sequel story Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版 鬼滅の刃 無限列車編) released in October, 2020. This anime has not completed yet, but it is safe to say that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will grow to represent the best anime in Japan and around the world.
Air Dates: from 2019
Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure, Dark Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans
2. Naruto
Naruto (ナルト) , the greatest anime with the theme of Ninja, was initially released as the Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999 and run until 2014. The anime Naruto series was completed in 2017 after no less than 15 years, consisting of two titles: Naruto (NARUTO -ナルト-) aired in 2002-2007 and Naruto: Shippuden (NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝) aired in 2007-2017.
The setting of Naruto is the fictional world of Shinobi (Ninja), and the ineffective boy Naruto is growing by the help of many friends and masters there. Naruto and other Ninja characters battle with various Ninja techniques using the chakra energy.
Lots of anime’s essentials such as strong bonds with friends and family, betrayal and parting are represented in this anime. Many anime fans may pick out Naruto as the top of anime especially for foreign people, and it deserves it. Nevertheless, Naruto yields the top position to a certain new anime being released.
Air Dates: 2002-2017
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans
3. Clannad
The third position of the best anime list may satisfy many Japanese anime fans, however, some foreign people may be surprised at it since Clannad (クラナド) is less known worldwide. Clannad is one of the Kyoto Animation’s masterpieces, which is recommended for any kind of anime fan. There is no action scene or supernatural event in this anime, but human drama is represented sensitively.
There are two parts in the anime: Clannad in 2007-2008 and Clannad After Story in 2008-2009. The story follows the daily life of the main character Tomoya and the heroine Nagisa in the high school. It reaches the climax in the second half of the anime, and touching episodes move you. It is totally worth spending the amount of time for 44 main episodes.
Air Dates: 2007-2009
Genre: Drama, Slice of life
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans/Anime Freaks
Monogatari Series (物語シリーズ) , produced by the animation studio Shaft under the direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, is the popular anime series released in 2009. It is adapted into an anime from the novels written by Nisioisin (Nishio Ishin). The first season of Monogatari Series started as Bakemonogatari (化物語) , Nisemonogatari (偽物語) and Nisemonogatari Black (偽物語 黒) in 2009-2012. Monogatari means story or tale in English, and various bizarre stories are depicted focusing on unique charachers such as the high school boy Koyomi Araragi and several heroines.
Koyomi Araragi handles with lots of problems arising from apparitions called Kaii in Japanese. The apparitions (like supernatural ghost) have influence on the characters, and he saves them. There are mainly 5 seasons of the novel and 3 of them have been adapted into an anime. In an interview, the director Akiyuki Shinbo said that he would like to continue producing the rest of the seasons as long as the original novel is being published.
Air Dates: from 2009
Genre: Fantasy, Slice of life, Comedy
Recommended for Anime Freaks
5. One Piece
What is the most famous and top-selling ongoing manga and anime is One Piece (ワンピース) without a doubt. The first volume of the manga was published in 1997, and there are now over 90 volumes sold around the world. The anime adaption began two years later after the first manga was released, and over 900 episodes have been aired since then. The whole story of One Piece can be divided into about 10 parts, and beginners can enjoy it even if they start anywhere.
It proceeds with the adventures of the main character Monkey D. Luffy and his crews in the pirates world. He sets sail on the sea in search of the ultimate treasure called “One Piece”. There are Devil Fruits in the world of One Piece, which grant a superpower to those who eat one while the fruits unable them to swim. Powerful fight scenes between the Devil Fruits eaters including Luffy are stunning.
Air Dates: from 1999
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Drama
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans
Neon Genesis EVANGELION (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン), directed by Hideaki Anno, is worldly known as one of the symbols of Japanese anime in 1990s. The famous mecha anime mainly depicts the story of the 4 teenagers: Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu and Kaworu Nagisa. They fight with the enemies called Angels by piloting the giant humanoid robot Evangelions.
The three anime movies were released: Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:序) in 2007, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:破) in 2009 and Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:Q) in 2012. Additionally, the new title Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版:||) will come to the big screen in movies.
Air Dates: 1995-1996
Genre: Mecha, Action, Fantasy
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans
The popular manga and anime franchise JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険) started to be published from 1987, and the series consists of 8 parts from Phantom Blood (ファントムブラッド) to Jojolion (ジョジョリオン) so far (as of 2020). The newest anime adaption is the 5th part Golden Wind (黄金の風) which was aired in 2018-2019.
The stories focus on the mysterious adventures of the Joestar family. A main character varies by the part, but they all are the Joestar family. Unique characters and intense battle scenes are highlights of the anime.
Air Dates: from 2012
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Recommended for Anime Fans/Anime Freaks
8. Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- (Re：ゼロから始める異世界生活) , which is also called just Re:Zero, is looked on as one of the best Japanese anime and light novels released in 2010s. The season 1 started with 25 episodes in 2016, and the newly-edited version is aired from the beginning of 2020.
Finally, the season 2 of Re:Zero is scheduled to be released in 2020. The main character Subaru is sent to Isekai (another world) with no superpower except a certain ability. The story proceeds with the encounter with the heroine Emilia.
Air Dates: from 2016
Genre: Isekai, Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Time loop
Recommended for Anime Fans/Anime Freaks
9. Pokémon
Pokémon (ポケモン) is one of the most popular Japanese anime and games around the globe now, and it was first aired in Japan as the Japanese title Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター) in 1997. New titles have been broadcasted every time a new game is released, and the latest series is being broadcasted from 2019 following the previous Sun & Moon (ポケットモンスター サン&ムーン) .
The young boy Satoshi travels all over the world with various Pokemon like Pikachu to become a Pokemon master.
Air Dates: from 1997
Genre: Kids, Family, Adventure
Recommended for Beginners
10. Death Note
The mystery and horror anime Dearth Note (デスノート) , based on the manga published on the Weekly Shonen Jump from 2003 to 2006, is highly rated by both domestic and international anime fans. It is so popular worldwide partly because the anime is completed with the relatively short story (37 episodes) in addition to the well-elaborated storyline.
The protagonist Light Yagami finds a Death Note which makes people die if their names are written on the note. You can enjoy watching of the high-level game of wits.
Air Dates: 2006-2007
Genre: Mystery
Recommended for Beginners/Anime Fans