Greatest Anime TV Series
Background: Japanese anime TV series began in the early 1960s with Osamu Tezuka's "Astro Boy." This pioneering series laid the groundwork for the industry with its distinctive character designs, vibrant colors, and imaginative plots. During the 1970s and 1980s, anime expanded in popularity both domestically and internationally through series like "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Dragon Ball." The 1990s marked even greater global reach with series such as "Sailor Moon" and "Pokémon." In the 21st century, anime became a cultural phenomenon, thanks to titles like "Naruto," "Attack on Titan," and "My Hero Academia," all attracting vast audiences. Streaming platforms have made it more accessible globally, making anime an influential force in the animation industry and global pop culture.
Criteria: These Greatest Japanese Anime TV series were chosen and ranked considering their Popularity, Influence and Impact on animated television and streaming content, Innovation, Originality, and Acclaim from both critics and the public.
Criteria: These Greatest Japanese Anime TV series were chosen and ranked considering their Popularity, Influence and Impact on animated television and streaming content, Innovation, Originality, and Acclaim from both critics and the public.
100 Greatest Japanese Anime TV Series
Rank: Title: English - (Title: Japanese) (Years, genre, keywords) (Directors) Seasons / Episodes
- Dragonball Z
ドラゴンボールZ (1989 - 1996, adventure, fantasy) (Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi)
9 Seasons: 291 Episodes - Neon Genesis Evangelion
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (1995 - 1996, psychological drama) (Hideaki Anno)
1 Season: 26 Episodes - One Piece
の「ワノ国編」ビジュアル (1999 - present, adventure, fantasy) (Kōnosuke Uda, + 10)
2 Seasons: 16 Episodes - Astro Boy
鉄腕アトム (1963 - 1966, science fiction) (Osamu Tezuka)
193 Episodes - Mobile Suit Gundam
機動戦士ガンダム (1979 - 1989, space opera, robot) (Yoshiyuki Tomino)
43 Episodes - Pokémon
ポケットモンスター (1997 - present, adventure, fantasy, comedy) (Kunihiko Yuyama, Daiki Tomiyasu)
28 Seasons: 1,375 Episodes - Dragon Ball
ドラゴンボール (1986 - 1989, adventure, fantasy, comedy) (Minoru Okazaki, Daisuke Nishio)
9 Seasons: 153 Episodes - Cowboy Bebop
カウボーイビバップ (1998, neo-noir, space western) (Shinichirō Watanabe)
26 Episodes - Death Note
オリジナル・サウンドトラック (2006 - 2007, supernatural thriller) (Tetsurō Araki)
1 Season: 2 Parts, 37 Episodes - Attack on Titan
進撃の巨人 (2013 - 2023, post-apocalyptic, fantasy) (Tetsurō Araki +3)
4 Seasons: 94 Episodes - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
鋼の錬金術師 (2009 - 2010, steampunk, dark fantasy) (Yasuhiro Irie)
1 Season: 64 Episodes - Sailor Moon
美少女戦士セーラームーン (1992 - 1997, magical girl) (Junichi Sato, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Takuya Igarashi)
5 Seasons: 200 Episodes - Naruto
ナルト (2002 - 2007, adventure, fantasy, comedy) (Hayato Date)
5 Seasons: 220 Episodes - Lupin III
ルパン三世 (1971 - 1985, action, gentleman thief) (Masaaki Ōsumi, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata)
Part I: 23 Episodes 1971 - 1972, Part II: 155 Episodes 1977 - 1980, Part III: 50 Episodes 1984 - 1985, - Space Battleship Yamato
宇宙戦艦ヤマト (1974 - 1975, military science fiction) (Leiji Matsumoto)
1 Season: 26 Episodes - Doraemon
ドラえもん (2017 - present, science fiction) (Soichiro Zen, Shinnosuke Yakuwa, Hirofumi Ogura)
22 Seasons: 915 Episodes - Legend of the Galactic Heroes
銀河英雄伝説 (1988 - 2000, military science fiction) (Noboru Ishiguro)
6 Seasons: 162 episodes - Yu Yu Hakusho
銀河英雄伝説 (1992 - 1994, spirit detective) (Noriyuki Abe)
4 Seasons: 112 Episodes - Berserk
剣風伝奇ベルセルク (1997 - 1998, dark fantasy, sorcery) (Naohito Takahashi)
1 Season: 25 Episodes - Code Geass
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ (2006 - 2008, alternate history military) (Gorō Taniguchi)
2 Seasons: 50 Episodes - Rurouni Kenshin
るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- (1996 - 1998, adventure, romance) (Kazuhiro Furuhashi)
95 Episodes - Hunter x Hunter
HUNTER×HUNTER (1999 - 2001, adventure, fantasy) (Kazuhiro Furuhashi)
3 Seasons: 62 Episodes - One Punch Man
ワンパンマン (2015 - present, superhero, action) (Shingo Natsume, Chikara Sakurai, Shinpei Nagai)
3 Seasons: 36 Episodes - Bleach
BLEACH (2004 - 2012, adventure, supernatural) (Noriyuki Abe)
366 Episodes - Fullmetal Alchemist
鋼の錬金術師 (2003 - 2004, adventure, dark fantasy) (Seiji Mizushima)
51 Episodes - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 (2012 - 2023, adventure, supernatural) (Naokatsu Tsuda + 4)
6 Seasons: 191 Episodes - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
鬼滅の刃 (2019 - present, adventure, dark fantasy) (Haruo Sotozaki)
4 Seasons: 63 Episodes - Jujutsu Kaisen
呪術廻戦 (2020 - present, dark fantasy, supernatural) (Sunghoo Park, Shōta Goshozono, Takeru Satō)
3 Seasons: 59 Episodes - Samurai Champloo
サムライチャンプルー (2004 - 2005, adventure, samuari) (Shinichirō Watanabe)
26 Episodes - Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
天元突破グレンラガン (2007 - 2007, adventure, coming-of-age) (Hiroyuki Imaishi)
27 Episodes - FLCL
フリクリ (2000 - 2023, comedy, sci-fi, surrealism) (Kazuya Tsurumaki)
5 Seasons: 24 Episodes - Naruto: Shippuden
NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝 (2007 - 2017, adventure, martial arts) (Hayato Date + 6)
22 Seasons: 500 Episodes - My Hero Academia
僕のヒーローアカデミア (2016 - 2025, adventure, sci-fi, superhero) (Kenji Nagasaki + 3)
8 Seasons: 170 Episodes - Steins; Gate
シュタインズ・ゲート (2011 - 2015, psychological thriller, sci-fi) (Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Satō, Tomoki Kobayashi)
24 Episodes - Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
葬送のフリーレン (2023 - present, fantasy, adventure) (Keiichirō Saitō, Tomoya Kitagawa)
2 Seasons: 38 Episodes - Vinland Saga
ヴィンランド・サガ (2019 - 2023, Vikings, adventure, quest) (Shūhei Yabuta)
2 Seasons: 48 Episodes - Fighting Spirit
はじめの一歩 (2000 - 2002, boxing, teen drama) (Satoshi Nishimura)
76 Episodes - Tomorrow's Joe (Ashita no Jô)
あしたのジョー (1970 - 1971, 1980 - 1981 boxing, sport drama) (Osamu Dezaki)
79 Episodes - Monster
モンスター (2004 - 2005, psychological thriller, serial killer) (Masayuki Kojima)
74 Episodes - Gintama
銀魂 (2006- 2018, samurai, adventure) (Shinji Takamatsu, Yōichi Fujita, Chizuru Miyawaki)
10 Seasons: 367 Episodes - Haikyuu!!
ハイキュー!! (2014 - 2020, sports, volleyball, coming-of-age) (Susumu Mitsunaka, Masako Satō)
4 Seasons: 85 Episodes - Takopi's Original Sin
タコピーの原罪 (2025, time travel sci fi, magic) (Shinya Iino)
6 Episodes - Witch Hat Atelier
とんがり帽子のアトリエ (2026 - 2026, fantasy, supernatural) (Ayumu Watanabe, Jun Shinohara)
13 Episodes - The Apothecary Diaries
薬屋のひとりごと (2023 - present, historical fiction, medicine) (Norihiro Naganuma, Akinori Fudesaka)
2 Seasons: 48 Episodes - Ping Pong the Animation
ピンポン (2014, sport, coming-of-age, drama) (Masaaki Yuasa)
11 Episodes - Your Lie in April
四月は君の嘘 (2014 - 2015, teen drama, coming-of-age) (Kyōhei Ishiguro)
22 Episodes - Mob Psycho 100
モブサイコ100 (2016 - 2022, psychic powers, teen fantasy) (Yuzuru Tachikawa, Takahiro Hasui)
3 Seasons: 37 Episodes - Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
かぐや様は告らせたい ～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～ (2019 - 2022, romantic comedy) (Mamoru Hatakeyama)
3 Seasons: 37 Episodes - Mushi-Shi
蟲師 (2005 - 2006, supernatural creatures) (Hiroshi Nagahama)
26 Episodes - Detective Conan (aka: Case Closed)
名探偵コナン (1996 - present, high school detective) (Kenji Kodama +4)
33 Seasons: 1,205 Episodes - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
攻殻機動隊 (2002 - 2005, cyberpunk, spy thriller) (Kenji Kamiyama)
2 Seasons: 52 Episodes - Great Teacher Onizuka
GTO (1999 - 2000, action, comedy) (Noriyuki Abe)
12 Episodes - Fruits Basket
フルーツバスケット (2019 - 2021, supernatural, romantic, comedy) (Yoshihide Ibata)
3 Seasons: 63 Episodes - Super Dimension Fortress Macross
超時空要塞マクロス (1982 - 1983, military sci-fi) (Noboru Ishiguro)
36 Episodes - The Tatami Galaxy
四畳半神話大系 (2010, psychological drama, romantic comedy) (Masaaki Yuasa)
11 Episodes - Saint Seiya
聖闘士星矢 (1986 - 1989, warriors, sci-fi, fantasy) (Kōzō Morishita, Kazuhito Kikuchi)
6 Seasons: 114 Episodes - Erased
僕だけがいない街 (2016, supernatural, time travel, thriller) (Tomohiko Itō)
12 Episodes - Ranking of Kings
王様ランキング (2021 - 2022, coming-of-age, fantasy) (Yōsuke Hatta, Makoto Fuchigami)
23 Episodes - UFO Robo Grendizer
UFOロボ グレンダイザー (1975 - 1977, space sci-fi, mecha) (Tomoharu Katsumata)
74 Episodes - Dandadan
ダンダダン (2024 - 2025, supernatural thriller, aliens) (Fūga Yamashiro, Abel Góngora)
2 Seasons: 24 Episodes - Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
サイバーパンク エッジランナーズ (2022, cyberpunk, dystopian) (Hiroyuki Imaishi)
10 Episodes - Kino's Journey
キノの旅 (2003, road trip, adventure, talking motorcycle) (Ryūtarō Nakamura)
13 Episodes - Lady Oscar: The Rose of Versailles
ベルサイユのばら (1979 - 1980, historical, 18th century France) (Tadao Nagahama, Osamu Dezaki )
40 Episodes - The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
斉木楠雄のΨ難 (2016 - 2018 psychic abilities, comedy) (Hiroaki Sakurai)
2 Seasons: 120 Episodes - Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World
ゼロから始める異世界生活 (2016 - present, dark fantasy, sorcery) (Masaharu Watanabe, Masahiro Shinohara)
4 Seasons: 77 Episodes - Dororo
どろろ (2019, dark fantasy, action) (Kazuhiro Furuhashi)
24 Episodes - Baccano!
バッカーノ! (2007, mystery, supernatural, alchemists) (Takahiro Omori)
26 Episodes - Black Clover
ブラッククローバー (2017 - present, sword & sorcery, fantasy) (Tatsuya Yoshihara, Ayataka Tanemura, Takashi Noto)
4 Seasons: 170 Episodes - Trigun
トライガン (1998, space sci-fi, action) (Satoshi Nishimura)
26 Episodes - Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
精霊の守り人 (2007, sword and sorcery, assassin, bodyguard) (Kenji Kamiyama)
26 Episodes - Parasyte: The Maxim
寄生獣 セイの格率 (2014 - 2015, alien invasion, psychological horror) (Kenichi Shimizu)
24 Episodes - Mononoke
モノノ怪 (2007, folk horror, evil spirits, ghosts) (Kenji Nakamura)
12 Episodes - Dr. Stone
ドクターストーン (2019 - 2026, post-apocalyptic, adventure) (Shinya Iino, Shūhei Matsushita)
4 Seasons: 94 Episodes - Fist Of The North Star (1 and 2)
北斗の拳 (1984 -1987, martial arts, post-apocalyptic) (Toyoo Ashida)
6 Parts: 152 Episodes - Ranma 1/2
らんま 1/2 (1989 - 1992, body-swap, teen fantasy) (Junji Nishimura, Kōji Sawai)
6 Seasons: 143 Episodes - The Promised Neverland
約束のネバーランド (2019 - 2021, dark fantasy, demons) (Mamoru Kanbe)
2 Seasons: 23 Episodes - Hell's Paradise
地獄楽 (2023 - 2026, dark fantasy, action) (Kaori Makita)
2 Seasons: 25 Episodes - Maison Ikkoku
めぞん一刻 (1986 - 1988, coming-of-age, romantic comedy) (Kazuo Yamazaki, Takashi Anno)
2 Seasons: 96 Episodes - Kamisama Kiss
神様はじめました (2012 & 2015, romantic comedy, supernatural) (xAkitaro Daichi)
2 Seasons: 25 Episodes - Serial Experiments Lain
シリアルエクスペリメンツレイン (1998, psychological horror, cyberpunk) (Ryūtarō Nakamura)
13 Episodes - Claymore
クレイモア (2007, dark fantasy, sword and sorcery) (Hiroyuki Tanaka)
26 Episodes - Crayon Shin-chan
クレヨンしんちゃん (1992 - present, comedy, satire) (Mitsuru Hongo + 3)
1,342 Episodes - Gachiakuta
ガチアクタ (2025 - present, dystopian, survival, drama (Fumihiko Suganuma)
24 Episodes - Gungrave
ガングレイヴ (2003 - 2004, crime syndicate, action) (Toshiyuki Tsuru)
26 Episodes - Outlaw Star
星方武侠アウトロースター (1998, space western, action) (Mitsuru Hongo)
26 Episodes - Inuyasha
犬夜叉 (2000 - 2004, 2009-2010, fantasy, adventure, romance) (Masashi Ikeda, Yasunao Aoki)
5 Seasons: 167 Episodes - Tekkaman Blade
宇宙の騎士テッカマンブレード (1992 - 1993, superhero sci-fi adventure) (Hiroshi Negishi)
49 Episodes - Paranoia Agent
妄想代理人 (2004, psychological thriller, mystery) (Satoshi Kon)
13 Episodes - Sentenced to Be a Hero
(2026 - present, demon king, prison, dark fantasy) (Hiroyuki Takashima, Shawn Gann)
1 Season: 12 Episodes - Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
巌窟王 (2004 - 2005, science fiction drama, thriller) (Mahiro Maeda)
24 Episodes - Tenchi Muyo! Tenchi Universe
天地無用! (1995, adventure, fantasy) (Hiroshi Negishi)
26 Episodes - Terror in Resonance
(2014, psychological thriller) (Shinichirō Watanabe)
11 Episodes - Elfen Lied
エルフェンリート (2002 - 2005, dark fantasy, psychological horror) (Mamoru Kanbe)
13 Episodes - Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
科学忍者隊ガッチャマン (1972 - 1974, action, superhero) (Hisayuki Toriumi)
105 Episodes - Space Pirate Captain Harlock
宇宙海賊キャプテンハーロック (1978 - 1979, space sci-fi, aliens) (Rintaro)
42 Episodes - Now and Then, Here and There
今、そこに いる僕 (1999 - 2000, sci-fi, survival) (Akitaro Daichi)
13 Episodes - Kill La Kill
キルラキル (2013 - 2015, martial arts superpowers, action) (Hiroyuki Imaishi)
24 Episodes - Hellsing
ヘルシング (2001 - 2002, dark fantasy, vampire) (Umanosuke Iida, Yasunori Urata)
13 Episodes - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 (2006 - 2009, teen drama, fantasy) (Tatsuya Ishihara, Yutaka Yamamoto)
2 Seasons: 24 Episodes - Wistoria: Wand and Sword
杖と剣のウィストリア (2024 - present, adventure, fantasy) (Tatsuya Yoshihara, Hideaki Nakano)
2 Seasons: 24 Episodes
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10 Best Chinese Anime Style TV Series (动 画 donghua)
- A Mortal's Journey (Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan)
凡人修仙传 (2020 - 2025, fantasy journey, adventure) (Yuren Wang + 4)
6 Seasons: 123 Episodes - Renegade Immortal (Xiān Nì)
仙逆 (2023 - present, fantasy, adventure) (Shi Touxiong, Feng Yi)
4 Seasons: 141 Episodes - Lord of Mysteries (Guǐ Mì Zhī Zhǔ)
诡秘之主 (2025, supernatural fantasy,) (Ke Xiong)
13 Episodes - Link Click (Shí Guāng Dài Lǐ Rén)
时光代理人 (2021 - present, supernatural fantasy, time travel) (Li Haoling)
3 Seasons: 30 Episodes - To Be Hero X (Tū Biàn Yīng Xióng X)
凸变英雄X (2025 - present, superhero, action) (Li Haoling)
1 Season: 24 Episodes - The Founder of Diabolism (Módào Zǔshī)
魔道祖师 (2018 - 2021, supernatural fantasy, demons) (Xiong Ke, Ma Chendi)
3 Seasons: 35 Episodes - Scissor Seven (Wǔ Liù Qī)
伍六七 (2018 - present, professional killer, action, comedy) (He Xiaofeng)
5 Seasons: 50 Episodes - Fog Hill of Five Elements (Wù Shān Wǔ Xíng)
雾山五行 (2020 & 2023, fantasy, historical, martial arts) (Lin Hun)
2 Seasons: 7 Episodes - Swallowed Star (Tūn Shì Xīng Kōng)
吞噬星空 (2020 - present, Post-apocalyptic sci-fi) (Robin Shen)
4 Seasons: 61 Episodes - Heaven Official's Blessing (Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
天官赐福 (2020 - 2024, heavens, afterlife, demons) (Li Haoling)
2 Seasons: 24 Episodes
10 Best French Anime Style TV Series (dessin animé)
- Arcane
2021 - 2024, dystopian sci-fi, steampunk (Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord, Bart Maunoury)
2 Seasons, 18 Episodes - Lastman
2016 - 2022, action, fantasy (Jérémie Périn)
2 Seasons, 32 Episodes - Wakfu
2008 - present, fantasy, adventure (Anthony Roux, Fabrice Nzinzi)
4 Seasons, 78 Episodes - The Mysterious Cities of Gold (sequel)
2012–2021, historical, quest for cities of gold (Jean-Luc François)
3 Seasons, 78 Episodes - Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea
1985–1987, post-apocalyptic, adventure (Michel Gauthier)
2 Seasons, 52 Episodes - Ōban Star-Racers
2006, galactic race, sci-fi, fantasy (Savin Yeatman-Eiffel, Thomas Romain)
1 Season, 26 Episodes - Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
2015 - present, fantasy, superhero (Thomas Astruc +5)
6 Seasons, 155 Episodes - Code Lyoko
2003–2007, supercomputer, virtual world (Jérôme Mouscadet)
4 Seasons, 97 Episodes - Totally Spies!
2001–2025, teen comedy, spies (Stephane Berry, Pascal Jardin)
7 Seasons, 182 Episodes - Team Galaxy
2006–2008, sci-fi, space, high-school (Stephane Berry)
2 Seasons, 52 Episodes
10 Best United States Anime Style TV Series
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
2005 - 2008, action-adventure, fantasy (Seung-Hyun Oh + 8)
3 Seasons, 61 Episodes - Blue Eye Samurai
2023, samurai, action, adventure (Jane Wu + 7)
1 Season, 8 Episodes - Scavenger's Reign
2023, space science fiction, horror, adventure (Benjy Brooke + 7)
1 Season, 12 Episodes - Pantheon
2022 - 2023, cyberpunk, thriller (Juno Lee + 6)
2 Seasons, 16 Episodes - The Mighty Nein
2025 - present, adventure, fantasy (Micah Gunnell + 5)
1 Season, 8 Episodes - The Dragon Prince
2018 - 2024, fantasy, action-adventure (Giancarlo Volpe, Villads Spangsberg, George Samilski)
7 Seasons, 63 Episodes - Castlevania
2017 - 2021, dark fantasy, monsters, Dracula (Sam Deats + 3)
4 Seasons, 32 Episodes - The Legend of Korra
2013 - 2015, sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, fantasy (Ian Graham + 5)
4 Seasons, 52 Episodes - Voltron: Legendary Defender
2016 - 2018, science fiction, adventure (Eugene Lee + 7)
8 Seasons, 78 Episodes - Generator Rex
2010 - 2013, superhero, post-apocalyptic crime (Christofer Graham + 5)
3 Seasons, 60 Episodes
Edited By: Lew, DDD forum
List Begun: 2026-07-21
List Begun: 2026-07-21
