Since the turn of the century, anime has steadily grown more prevalent in Western nations. Thanks to streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and HIDIVE, viewers can watch seasonal shows soon after they debut in Japan, facilitating online discussions about the most popular anime. As each season features dozens upon dozens of new and returning series, the industry is constantly evolving, and keeping up is far from a simple task.
While occasionally listed as a genre on streaming services like HBO Max or Netflix, anime covers a far wider spectrum than that descriptor suggests. In truth, anime is akin to a general term like "books" that covers various demographics and genres, ranging from comedies for children to gruesome thrillers that are strictly for adults.
Whether someone has been watching for years or is just now dipping their toes into the glorious world of Japanese animation, they can turn to this directory to discover their next movie or show. The anime recommendations are split among streaming services, genres, studios, directors, and other criteria.
Seasonal Guides
As each anime season (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) contains roughly 40 shows, they warrant separate guides that collect previews, reviews, and lore discussions for their most popular shows.
The Spring 2024 anime season is currently airing.
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Best Anime Movies Of All Time
Unlike series, anime movies come out in Western nations long after making their Japanese debuts, and they can be hard to find. Consequently, features tend to be overshadowed by shows; however, there are some absolutely fantastic films out there.
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Best Anime TV Shows Of All Time
There are so many anime shows that a definitive "best of" is impossible since it will vary from person to person depending on their preferences. That said, for newcomers to Japanese animation, the following article is a good place to start.
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Best Anime On Every Streaming Platform
Like Western releases, anime shows are split across a variety of streaming platforms, ranging from specialized sites like Crunchyroll to general platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. While overlap in content is possible, each service comes with unique shows and price points.
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Best Anime On Crunchyroll
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Best Anime On HIDIVE
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Best Anime On VRV
Note: VRV has been discontinued.
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Best Anime On Amazon Prime Video
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Best Anime On Max
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Best Anime On Hulu
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Best Anime On Netflix
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Best Anime On TubiTV
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Free Anime On Youtube
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Airing & Upcoming 2024 Anime
Every year blesses the world with more than a hundred anime, with each season usually containing at least 40 new shows or sequels. 2024 should not be an exception, and fans of Japanese animation will be kept busy on a near-daily basis. As the weeks and months roll by, more series will either be announced or reveal their release periods, although a season's full lineup usually only becomes apparent during the previous quarter. While still early days, certain genres have already confirmed plenty of anime for 2024.
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Best Anime Of 2023
2023 delivered plenty of great anime, with each season offering quantity and quality. The year also covered quite a lot of ground when it comes to genres, showing plenty of love for action, romance, sports, slice of life, comedy, isekai, horror, and more.
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Characters
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Manga
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Best New Manga Of 2023
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Best Of 2022
2022 was a good year for anime, with each season producing plenty of memorable shows that will be fondly remembered for years to come. Which anime was the best of 2022? Which series defined their genres? Which characters stole the viewers' hearts?
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Best Anime Per Genre & Themes
Similar to live-action stories, anime cannot be confined to one category. The industry covers most of the popular genres, be they comedy, sci-fi, action, slice of life, or horror. That said, some genres are topped up more frequently than others.
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Best Anime Per Demographic
Manga is generally divided into five demographics: Kids, Shojo (teen girls and young women), Shonen (teen boys and young men), Josei (adult women), and Seinen (adult men). As most anime are based on manga, many shows cater to the same audience as their source material. Ultimately, these demographics are merely a suggestion, but their representatives tend to tackle similar themes.
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Best Anime Per Decade
As anime has been around for more than half a century, the industry has morphed significantly throughout its extensive history. The following articles highlight a decade's greatest and most iconic shows.
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Best English Dubs
While quite a few people stick to solely subbed anime, plenty of shows have produced great English dubs over the years. In some cases, they provide a fresh experience that sets them apart from the Japanese versions.
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Best Anime Per Studio
The best anime studios put a unique stamp on their projects through their art styles, narrative choices, and animation quality. There are dozens of active studios at any given moment, but a few companies stand out from the crowd.
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Best Anime Per Director
Certain directors have shaped anime's legacy as their films have helped extend the medium's reach across the world.
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Best Anime Per Source Material
Not every anime is based on a manga. Over the years, studios have cast a wide net in search of inspiration. Creators have turned to everything, from fairy tales to songs, in pursuit of that next great anime adaptation.
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Best Anime Per Setting
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to Gothic castles and fantasy worlds, anime can bring to life all sorts of realistic or fantastical settings.
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City, Country, Continent, & Planet
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Unique Locations & Settings
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Best Anime Per Time Period
Similar to space, anime is also not restricted by time.
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Best Anime About...
Variety is the spice of life, and that's something Japanese animation provides. While certain topics are more popular than others, anime covers a wide spectrum of subjects.
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Similar Anime Recommendations
If someone is struggling to pick something new to watch, they can check out the following articles that provide recommendations for a few of the most popular anime.
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Manga Recommendations
If a manga proves to be popular enough, an anime might follow in due time. However, an adaptation is hardly a guarantee, and there are plenty of great stories that have yet to be animated. Some of the best sci-fi manga and horror manga have announced no plans to become anime, and these genres are not exceptions to the rule.
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Manga With No Anime
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Completed Manga
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Similar Manga
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Misc.
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Light Novel Recommendations
Similar to manga, light novels regularly serve as inspiration for anime adaptations. Popular shows like Sword Art Online, 86: Eighty-Six, Monogatari, KonoSuba, and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai are all based on light novels, and they are just the tip of the iceberg. Also like manga, anime has barely scratched the surface of light novel content.
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Completed Light Novels
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Light Novels With No Anime
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Completed Light Novels
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Misc.
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Manhwa Recommendations
Manhwa refers to Korean comics, quite a few of which are of the web novel variety. Although not as mainstream or accessible as manga, manhwa has started to grow in popularity in recent years, with even a few major properties announcing anime adaptations.
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Genres
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Misc.
Not every anime-related topic fits seamlessly into a theme or category, but these articles still deserve to be highlighted.
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Best Anime Characters
An argument could be made that a story is only as good as its characters, and these characters represent anime at its best.
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Animals
It is not always about humans, and anime is absolutely packed with beloved animals, many of whom serve as mascots for their respective shows or movies.
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Archetypes
Typically ending in -ere, these character archetypes are staples of manga and anime stories. While they might not be equally popular, all these categories have dozens upon dozens of representatives.
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Himedere
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Himedere
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Oujidere
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Oujidere
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Birthday
Usually, an anime avoids directly mentioning a character's birthday, especially if a show is not part of the slice of life or romance genres. Still, quite a few mangaka reveal the birthdays of their characters.
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Family
Like real life, anime highlights all sorts of families, showcasing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Hair
Hairstyles are an oddly huge deal in anime, particularly in shonen. Series like Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure go out of their way to give their characters unique styles, and they cover all the colors of the rainbow.
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Mythological & Supernatural
Like any fiction medium, anime is not confined to reality, and plenty of shows explore the supernatural or mythical. These series can range from lighthearted comedies to dark fantasy shows, and their characters come in all forms.
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Nationality
Obviously, most anime characters are Japanese, but there are a few noteworthy exceptions. Ultimately, anime is an international industry.
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Powers & Abilities
Anime's penchant for unique abilities goes well beyond just elemental-based powers, although those can be fun in their own right.
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Professions
Teachers, doctors, and detectives – anime lets every profession shine. While students tend to hog the limelight in most stories, adults with stable jobs are not in short supply either.
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Protagonists
An anime does not need a fantastic protagonist to achieve greatness, but it sure helps.
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Roles
Similar to professions, certain anime characters are dedicated to fulfilling the responsibilities of specific roles.
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Royalty
Kings, queens, princes, and princesses – anime has the royal family covered.
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Villains
Some of the most iconic anime characters of all time are villains, and they often overshadow the heroes who are trying to stop them.
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