The 10 Best Anime TV Shows of All Time: ‘Cowboy Bebop,’ ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion,’ and More

Anime has been big in the West ever since the days of “Sailor Moon” and “Speed Racer,” but these days, the Japanese art form has been getting mainstream shout outs left and right. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, multiple of the world’s greatest athletes celebrated their wins by striking poses or otherwise making reference to anime favorites like “Yu Gi Oh” and “One Piece.” Earlier this summer, Megan Thee Stallion released a whole song, “Otaku Hot Girl,” about her love for anime, referencing and sampling a song from “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

This cultural growth isn’t surprising if you pay attention and see how the market has grown. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, the industry grossed $21.3 billion worldwide — and that was after a small COVID induced downturn. Anime films like “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” and “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” proved that fans would turn up in theaters, with both doing solid business during difficult times for the theatrical industry.

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That said, the bread and butter of anime fandom has always been TV series; part of the medium’s popularity today comes from Gen Z and Millennials who grew up with shows like “Pokémon” and “Naruto” growing up and retaining their fandom. The rise of streaming has been another factor: with sites like Crunchyroll and HiDive that stream shows the day they premiere on Japanese TV, it’s never been easier or more accessible to watch shows new and old.

What makes anime so appealing to western audiences? Well, the first thing to note is that it’s very much a medium and an artform instead of a genre. Beyond the action series like “Dragon Ball Z” that often defines anime’s perception among non-viewers, shows can range from dark, psychological dramas to zany situational comedies. The best anime are the ones that use the freedom of the animation format to create something vividly imaginative and fresh, something that could never be done in live-action. And while almost every well-regarded anime often feels highly specific to Japan’s culture, the greatest possess a universal relatability that transcends subtitles or cultural boundaries.

In compiling this list, we focused on more canonical classics and series that have had an impact on the artform. As a result, shows that are still currently running and have yet to conclude were not eligible for inclusion. With that said, read on for the 10 best anime TV shows ever made.

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