Table of Contents
Picking the best anime to watch shouldn’t feel like homework. But open any streaming app and you’ll find thousands of shows. So where do you start?
This list is for newcomers wanting a safe first pick and regular viewers filling watchlist gaps. Every show was judged on story, characters, animation, cultural impact, rewatch value and fan ratings. No spoilers past the first few episodes.
How We Picked These
Popularity alone didn’t decide the best anime to watch here. A show needed a strong story, believable character growth, and staying power after the hype faded.
Scores on MyAnimeList, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes were a sanity check, not the final word. We also kept the genres varied.
The 10 Best Anime to Watch at Least Once
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Genre: Action, adventure, fantasy
- Episodes: 64 (1 season)
- Studio: Bones
- Year: 2009–2010
Two brothers try to bring their mother back to life using alchemy, and it goes horribly wrong. One loses his body, the other an arm and a leg. Their quest grows into a story about war, cover-ups and sacrifice.
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s a rare long series with almost no wasted episodes. Ask us for the best anime of all time, and this is usually our first answer.
Best for: Anyone, especially beginners who want a complete, satisfying story.
2. Attack on Titan
- Genre: Dark fantasy, action, mystery
- Episodes: 89 across 4 seasons, including the two-part final special
- Studio: Wit Studio (Seasons 1–3), MAPPA (Season 4)
- Year: 2013–2023
Humanity lives behind giant walls because man-eating Titans roam outside. Then the walls stop being safe, and angry young Eren Yeager joins the military to fight back. Season 1 plays like survival horror; later seasons become a twisting political mystery.
Why it’s a must-watch: Few shows reward patience like this. The shocks hook you early, but the real payoff is how the world keeps getting bigger.
Best for: Fans of dark thrillers who don’t mind heavy themes.
3. Death Note
- Genre: Psychological thriller, supernatural
- Episodes: 37
- Studio: Madhouse
- Year: 2006–2007
A top student named Light finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it, and decides to “clean up” the world. A mysterious detective known only as L sets out to catch him.
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s short, gripping and easy to follow, which makes it the best anime to watch if you’ve never seen one. The cliffhangers make “one more episode” hard to resist.
Best for: Beginners and anyone who loves cat-and-mouse stories.
4. Steins;Gate
- Genre: Sci-fi, thriller
- Episodes: 24 (plus an OVA episode)
- Studio: White Fox
- Year: 2011
A self-proclaimed mad scientist and his friends accidentally build a microwave that sends text messages to the past. Small changes start rippling into big ones. Fair warning: the first several episodes are slow and chatty, but that setup matters.
Why it’s a must-watch: It has one of the smartest time-travel plots in any medium, and the payoff for sticking with the slow start is huge.
Best for: Sci-fi fans and viewers who enjoy a slow burn.
5. Hunter x Hunter (2011)
- Genre: Action, adventure, fantasy
- Episodes: 148
- Studio: Madhouse
- Year: 2011–2014
Young Gon sets out to become a Hunter, an elite licensed adventurer, to find the father who left him. It starts as a cheerful shonen, then the arcs darken and the power system gets surprisingly clever.
Why it’s a must-watch: Fights are won by strategy, not by yelling louder. Note: the manga is unfinished, so the anime stops at a natural break.
Best for: Action fans who want more brains than brawn.
6. Cowboy Bebop
- Genre: Sci-fi, neo-noir, action
- Episodes: 26
- Studio: Sunrise
- Year: 1998–1999
A crew of broke bounty hunters travels the solar system chasing criminals and usually losing the money anyway. Most episodes stand alone, mixing jazz, westerns and film noir.
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s stylish in a way that hasn’t aged. Its music and dub are both widely loved.
Best for: Adults new to anime and fans of mood-driven stories.
7. Your Lie in April
- Genre: Drama, romance, music
- Episodes: 22
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Year: 2014–2015
Kousei was a piano prodigy until he stopped being able to hear his own playing. Then he meets Kaori, a loud, free-spirited violinist who drags him back toward music.
Why it’s a must-watch: It proves anime can do quiet, emotional drama as well as big battles. Keep tissues nearby.
Best for: Viewers who want an emotional, character-focused story.
8. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Genre: Action, dark fantasy
- Episodes: 60+ across multiple seasons; story continues in films
- Studio: ufotable
- Year: 2019–present
After demons slaughter his family, Tanjiro finds his younger sister alive but turned into a demon. He trains as a demon slayer to find a cure.
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s one of the most popular anime to watch right now, and the hype around its animation is earned.
Best for: Beginners and anyone who wants top-tier action visuals.
9. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Genre: Fantasy, adventure, drama
- Episodes: 28 (Season 1)
- Studio: Madhouse
- Year: 2023–2024
Most fantasy stories end when the heroes defeat the Demon King. Frieren starts there. The elf mage outlives her party and slowly realizes she barely knew them. It’s calm, funny and quietly moving.
Why it’s a must-watch: It proves newer shows can sit beside the classics. Want the best anime to watch from recent years? Start here.
Best for: Fantasy fans who prefer reflection over nonstop action.
10. Vinland Saga
- Genre: Historical, action, drama
- Episodes: 48 (2 seasons)
- Studio: Wit Studio (Season 1), MAPPA (Season 2)
- Year: 2019, 2023
Set among 11th-century Vikings, it follows Thorfinn, a boy consumed by revenge against the man who killed his father. Season 1 is brutal and fast. Season 2 changes direction completely, becoming a slow story about life after violence.
Why it’s a must-watch: Few anime take such a big risk with their tone, and fewer pull it off.
Best for: Fans of historical epics and mature character growth.
Tips for New Anime Watchers
Sub or dub? Try both. Subs keep the original voice acting; dubs skip the reading. Neither is wrong.
Use a filler guide. Filler lists help you skip episodes that aren’t from the manga.
Check the watch order. Some franchises, like Demon Slayer, have films between seasons.
Give it three episodes. Even the best anime to watch can start slow. Still not hooked after that? Move on.
FAQ
What is the best anime to watch for beginners?
Death Note is a great first pick: 37 episodes, easy to follow, and nearly every episode pushes the plot forward with a new twist. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is another safe choice if you want something longer with action, emotion, and a satisfying ending.
What is the best anime to watch of all time?
Opinions vary, and there’s no single answer, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood comes up most often, thanks to its tight plot, memorable characters and strong ending. Steins;Gate, Attack on Titan and Frieren also regularly rank near the very top on MyAnimeList.
Alternatively if you want to explore more, Here is the comprehensive guide with more anime.
Which popular anime can I finish in a weekend?
Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes), Your Lie in April (22) and Steins;Gate (24) are all weekend-friendly. At roughly 24 minutes per episode, each takes about 9 to 11 hours. Death Note, at 37 episodes, works too if you’re ready for a long binge.
What are the best anime to watch if I only like live-action shows?
Try Death Note or Cowboy Bebop. Both feel close to Western thrillers and crime dramas, with a grounded tone and adult storytelling. Vinland Saga suits fans of historical dramas like Vikings, since it cares about characters as much as battles.
Is it better to watch anime subbed or dubbed?
It depends on you. Subs keep the original Japanese performances and often reach streaming platforms first. Dubs are easier if you don’t want to read while watching. Try an episode of each and see which one you personally enjoy more.
So, What’s the Best Anime to Watch First?
Any show on this list is a strong answer to “what’s the best anime to watch next?” Start with a genre you already love. Thriller fan? Death Note. Want to feel something? Your Lie in April. Want it all? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Which must-watch anime did we miss? Drop your favourite in the comments.