With anime exploding into the mainstream in the last two decadesnow seems like a great time to get into it, especially since it has never been easier to access the best animated stories coming out of Japan and beyond. Anime is a multifaceted medium with a deep well of genres, styles, and philosophies woven throughout its long history. Check out these anime series with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score that won’t fail to capture your interest while introducing you to the best that anime can offer.
15
‘Soul Eater’ (2008 – 2009)
Table of Contents
- 15
‘Soul Eater’ (2008 – 2009)
- 14
‘Trigun stampede’ (2023)
- 13
‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2023)
- 12
‘Solo Leveling’ (2024 – Present)
- 11
‘Dorohedoro’ (2020 – Present)
- 10
‘Spy X Family’ (2022 – Present)
- 9
‘Dandadan’ (2024 – Present)
- 8
‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004)
- 7
‘Vinland Saga’ (2019 – 2023)
- 6
‘Death Note’ (2006 – 2007)
Soul Eater is based on the manga written and illustrated by Atsushi Ohkubo about students at Death Weapon Meister Academy and their living weapon partners trying to collect the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch to gain a rank for themselves and their weapon.
Though Soul Eater has received mixed reviews for its deviations from the original manga, it has also received great praise for its stylized animation and the fluid action sequences that shine throughout the series. In its short 51-episode run, viewers will find themselves quickly falling in love with the main trio and their quirky weapons.
14
‘Trigun stampede’ (2023)
Trigun stampede is a sci-fi Westernbut this reimagining of Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga uses fresh 3D animation in a whole new world to explore. The original Trigun was a classic that many hold dear as their first foray into anime, so Director Kenji mutō and studio Orange had some big shoes to fill, and luckily, they stepped up in a big way. Plus, fans of the original series will be thrilled to hear Johnny Yong Bosch reprise his role as the Human Typhoon in the dub.
The new animation style and emphasis on fantastical worldbuilding push the series into a new realm that complements the Western aesthetic by coupling it with futuristic technology while keeping true to the themes surrounding humanity and redemption.
13
‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2023)
We’re all just waiting for the world to end so we don’t have to go to work the next day, and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead gives us that catharsis through great characters and a delightful use of color and action. Haro Aso’s post-apocalyptic zombie comedy feels like it captures the spirit of Gen Z and Millennials in a way that not a lot of media has.
The way the world moves from the dreary, desaturated tones of living in a mundane world while enduring a toxic work environment to the hope of finally having time to pursue one’s dreams immediately injecting the world with a newfound vibrance is exactly what many of us long to feel, and it’s all there in 12 beautiful episodes.
12
‘Solo Leveling’ (2024 – Present)
As one of the most-talked-about adaptations of the last two years, Solo Leveling is a feast for the eyes with an extra level of care from the dubbing team, whose love of Chugong’s webnovel-turned-webtoon oozes from every line — especially from main character VA Aleks le and dubbing director Caitlin Glasswho work hard to preserve the heart of the characters.
Though there is a power fantasy element to this story about a man who gains the ability to grow stronger in a world where everyone has a ceiling on their magical potential, the standout aspect of the series is the way protagonist Sung Jin-woo uses his power to help the weak and protect his family, all while farming enough aura to fill an orchard.
11
‘Dorohedoro’ (2020 – Present)
Dorohedoro is a dark and goofy roller coaster of sorcery, mystery, and death. This adaptation of Q hayshida’s distinct style of art and character writing that perfectly balances gore, horror, and humor while moving at a breakneck pace is an underrated jewel that has a little something for everyone.
Following this violent lizard-headed goofball as he unearths the mystery of his past is a highly satisfying way to explore the world around him. The unique world, consisting of three distinct magical realms that mix a dark post-apocalyptic aesthetic with elements of traditional fantasy and magical realism, is a wonderful playground for the main character as he searches for the sorcerer who cursed him and stole his memories.
10
‘Spy X Family’ (2022 – Present)
Tatsuya Endo creates a wonderful world of espionage that feels like it could only exist in a larger-than-life manga or anime that uses the main trio’s skills as a medium to explore the political landscape while turning the found family trope up to 11. This comedy about a spy and an assassin pretending to be a family with an adorable psychic daughter is equal parts wholesome, romanticand kick-ass.
Many Spy X Family fans talk about how they would die for Anyathe telepathic toddler, and that’s a given, but the will-they-won’t-they between the pretend parents is equally tantalizing as they dance around their secrets and budding feelings.
9
‘Dandadan’ (2024 – Present)
Slug has sprinted back into our lives with its limited theatrical run of the Evil Eye Arcand Season 2 is officially rolling on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Now is the perfect time to catch up on this perfect mix of paranormal sci-fi drama with a hint of slow-burn romance that took home two Crunchyroll Anime Awards this year.
Toot toot! This is your stop to hop the hype train and revel in the irreverent teen comedy following two high schoolers, Momo and Okarun, whose lives become intertwined on a fateful night where they encounter aliens and a ghostly grandma.
8
‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004)
The late, great Satoshi Kon teams up with studio Madhouse to create a thrilling anthology. Kon uses his signature style of storytelling that mixes fluid and stylized animation to capture a sense of dread, fear, and sadness, all wrapped in a visually stunning package.
Paranoia Agent is a trip that is best taken more than once, as the mindbending story features a series of lightly connected vignettes tied together by two detectives investigating a mysterious assailant who is supposedly hitting citizens in Tokyo with a bent golden bat. But at the heart of each encounter is the exploration of mass hysteria, paranoia, and the ripple effects of a dangerous lie.
7
‘Vinland Saga’ (2019 – 2023)
Vinland Saga is an intense and nuanced series with a recognizable animation style provided by the top-tier talent at Wit Studio and MAP for the first and second seasonsrespectively. The series is based on the manga created by Makoto Yukimura and recreates the epic tale of Icelandic explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni.
Yukimura has a uniquely engaging way of connecting the viewer with every character they meet along the journey as he makes them feel like real, flawed humans who are each a product of their environments, allowing natural and often heart-wrenching arcs to bloom throughout the series. Vinland Saga tells the story of a young Thorfinn as it follows him down his path of revenge to show the ways that violence can become a corrupting force that infects everyone in its wake.
6
‘Death Note’ (2006 – 2007)
Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s supernatural mystery crime thriller is a captivating game of cat-and-mouse between a gifted teen using an otherworldly notebook to enact his personal sense of justice and the brash and quirky Sherlock-esque international detective trying to hunt him down.
A standout aspect of this anime, beyond the mind games and strategy, is the stylized flair and striking score that director Tetsurō Araki and studio Madhouse use to bring this story to life. As one of the biggest anime titles in the last two decadesinspiring follow-up manga one-shots, multiple movies, a middling live-action adaptationand even a hit musical, Death Note is one of the best ways to dip your toe into anime.
