In shortNumber 1 in our ranking is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, followed by Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop.
Picking the best anime of all time means looking beyond popularity: we weighed each series’ influence on the medium, the quality of its story and animation, critical consensus and how well it holds up today. The result mixes classics that changed Japanese animation with modern hits that took it worldwide.
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1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2009–2010 · Studio Bones · 64 episodes
It adapts Hiromu Arakawa's manga from start to finish and ties up every plot thread without filler. It blends adventure, war drama and moral questions about the cost of every choice, with an ending critics and fans rank among the most satisfying in anime.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
1995–1996 · Gainax · Directed by Hideaki Anno
It took the giant-robot genre and turned it into a psychological study of its characters. Its influence on later anime is huge, and its ending is still debated thirty years on.
3. Cowboy Bebop
1998–1999 · Sunrise · Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe
A space bounty-hunter series that mixes westerns, film noir and jazz, with a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno. It was a gateway to anime for many adult viewers in the West.
4. Attack on Titan
2013–2023 · Wit Studio and MAPPA · Manga by Hajime Isayama
It began as a survival story against giants and ended as a story about war, hatred and freedom. It was one of anime's biggest global phenomena of the last decade.
5. Dragon Ball Z
1989–1996 · Toei Animation · Manga by Akira Toriyama
It defined action anime for several generations and was a TV phenomenon across much of the world. Its fights, transformations and characters remain the benchmark for shōnen.
6. Death Note
2006–2007 · Madhouse · 37 episodes
A battle of wits between a student who can kill by writing a name and the detective hunting him. Its tension and moral premise made it one of the most recommended starting points for anime.
7. One Piece
Since 1999 · Toei Animation · Manga by Eiichiro Oda
Anime's great adventure: a vast world, an unforgettable crew and more than a thousand episodes. Its ability to keep the excitement going for decades is unique.
8. Steins;Gate
2011 · White Fox · 24 episodes
A time-travel story that starts quietly and becomes one of the most intense in the genre. It is a model of tight writing in which every detail from the early episodes matters.
9. Hunter × Hunter
2011–2014 · Madhouse · 148 episodes
It starts as a classic adventure and reinvents itself arc after arc, with one of the cleverest power systems in the genre. The Chimera Ant arc is considered one of the best in anime.
10. Naruto
2002–2017 · Studio Pierrot · Manga by Masashi Kishimoto
Together with Naruto Shippuden, it grew up alongside a whole generation with a story of perseverance, friendship and rivalry. Its influence on later action anime is obvious.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best anime of all time?
In our ranking it is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, for its complete story, pacing and ending. Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop complete the podium.
Which anime should I watch first?
Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Cowboy Bebop: they are complete series of reasonable length that don't require any knowledge of the genre.
Why are there no Studio Ghibli films?
Because this ranking covers series. Anime films will get their own top 10.
Would you change the order?
Tell us what's missing, what shouldn't be here or what you'd put at number 1.