The best anime guide

The best anime movies of all time

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Unlike TV series, anime films appear in Western countries long after their debut in Japan and can be hard to find. Consequently, the features tend to be overshadowed by the performances; however, there are some absolutely fantastic movies.

The best anime TV series of all time

There are so many anime shows that a definitive “best of” is impossible as it will vary from person to person based on their preferences. That being said, for those new to Japanese animation, the following article is a good place to start.

The best anime on every streaming platform

Like Western releases, anime shows are distributed across a variety of streaming platforms, from specialized sites like Crunchyroll to mainstream platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. While content overlap is possible, each service comes with unique shows and price points.

The best anime on Crunchyroll

The best anime on HIDIVE

The best anime on Amazon Prime Video

The best anime on Max

The best anime on Hulu

The best anime on Netflix

The best anime on TubiTV

Free Anime on Youtube

2025 Anime

The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World trailer

2025 should be another big year for anime, even if most seasonal schedules have yet to begin to take shape. This section highlights series that will air in 2025.

2024 Anime

Every year it blesses the world with more than a hundred anime, with each season usually containing at least 40 new shows or sequels. 2024 is no exception, and fans of Japanese animation have been kept busy almost on a daily basis. Let's highlight all the anime released in 2024 in a few key genres

Every anime in 2024 by genre

The best anime of 2023

2023 offered a lot of great anime, with each season delivering quantity and quality. The year also covered quite a bit of ground when it came to genres, showing a lot of love for action, romance, sports, slice of life, comedy, isekai, horror and more.

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- The best manga that ended in 2023

Light novels
- Best new light novels of 2023
- The best light novels that ended in 2023

Best of 2022

2022 has been 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 hearts of the viewers?

The best anime by genre and themes

Similar to live-action stories, anime cannot be confined to a single category. The industry covers most of the popular genres, be it comedy, sci-fi, action, slice of life or horror. That being said, some genres are filled more frequently than others.

Best anime by demographic

Manga is generally divided into five demographics: Kids, Shojo (teenagers and young women), Shonen (teenage boys and young men), Josei (adult females), and Seinen (adult males). Since most anime are based on manga, many shows cater to the same audience as their source material. Ultimately, these demographics are only a suggestion, but their representatives tend to cover similar themes.

Best anime of the decade

As anime has been around for more than half a century, the industry has transformed significantly throughout its extensive history. The following articles highlight the biggest and most iconic shows of a decade.

The best English Dubs

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While many people only stick to subtitled anime, plenty of shows have produced great English dubs over the years. In some cases, they offer a fresh experience that sets them apart from the Japanese versions.

Best anime by 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 studios active at any given time, but a few companies stand out from the crowd.

Best Anime by Director

Certain directors have shaped anime's legacy as their films have helped expand the medium's reach around the world.

Best source material anime

Not all anime are based on a manga. Over the years, studios have cast a wide net for inspiration. Creators have turned to everything from fairy tales to songs in their search for the next big anime adaptation.

The best anime on the set

From the bustling streets of Tokyo to gothic castles and fantasy worlds, anime can bring all kinds of realistic or fantastic settings to life.

City, country, continent and planet

Unique locations and settings

Best anime ever

Similar to space, anime is also not limited by time.

The best anime about…

Variety is the spice of life and that's something that Japanese animation offers. While certain topics are more popular than others, anime covers a wide spectrum of topics.

Similar recommendations for anime

If anyone is struggling to choose something new to watch, they can check out the following articles that provide recommendations for some of the most popular anime.

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Not every anime-related topic fits neatly into a theme or category, but these articles are still worth highlighting.

Manga Recommendations

If a manga proves to be popular enough, an anime could follow in due course. However, an adaptation is not 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 that they have no plans to become anime, and these genres are no exception to the rule.

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, KonoSubaand Rascal doesn't dream of Senpai Bunny they are all based on light novels and are just the tip of the iceberg. Also, like the manga, the anime barely scratched the surface of the light novel content.

Light novels without anime

Manhwa Recommendations

Manhwa refers to Korean comics, quite a few of which are of the web novel type. While not as mainstream or accessible as manga, manhwa has begun to grow in popularity in recent years, with even a few major properties announcing anime adaptations.

The best anime characters

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One could argue that a story is only as good as its characters, and these characters represent anime at its best.

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It's not always about humans, and anime is full of beloved animals, many of which serve as mascots for their respective shows or movies.

Archetypes

Usually ending in -ere, these character archetypes are staples of manga and anime stories. Although they may not be as popular, all these categories have dozens and dozens of representatives.

Birthday

An anime usually avoids directly mentioning a character's birthday, especially if a show isn't part of the lifestyle or romance genres. However, quite a few mangaka reveal their characters' birthdays.

Family

Just like real life, anime highlights all kinds of families, showing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Hair

Hairstyles are a weirdly big deal in anime, especially shonen. Series like Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh!and JoJo's bizarre adventure they do their best to give their characters unique styles and cover all the colors of the rainbow.

Mythological and supernatural

Like any fictional medium, anime isn't limited to reality, and plenty of shows explore the supernatural or mythical. These series can range from light comedies to dark fantasy shows, and their characters come in all forms.

Nationality

Obviously, most anime characters are Japanese, but there are some notable exceptions. Finally, anime is an international industry.

Powers and abilities

The anime's penchant for unique abilities goes far beyond elemental-based powers, though those can be fun in their own right.

PROFESSIONAL

Teachers, doctors and detectives – anime lets every profession shine. While college students tend to get the spotlight in most stories, adults with stable jobs aren't lacking either.