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.
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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 Funimation
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Best Anime On HIDIVE
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Best Anime On VRV
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Best Anime On Amazon Prime Video
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Best Anime On HBO 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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Upcoming 2023 Anime
2023 is in its early days, but plenty of anime are already announced for the year. While some have yet to specify their broadcast period, quite a few shows have declared themselves for Spring or Summer. A number of massive sequels are penciled in for Spring 2023, including Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 3, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc, KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!, and Dr. Stone: New World. Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Separation are also confirmed for Summer, and that season's lineup is still very much in its infancy.
Along with these returning juggernauts, a plethora of new anime will be trying to leave their mark over the coming months. Sci-fi and mecha fans have a few shows to look forward to (or consume during the Winter), and the same can be said for most other genres or demographics.
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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
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 Manga With No Anime
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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Best Light Novels With No Anime
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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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 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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Best Anime Per Time Period
Similar to space, anime is also not restricted by time.
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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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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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Archetypes
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Family
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Hair
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Mythological & Supernatural
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Powers & Abilities
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Professions
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Protagonists
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Roles
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Royalty
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Villains
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