Sometimes we might be caught between two minds on what to watch given the large variety of material to choose from and how limited our time is. Content in Japanese anime varies from action to comedy, slice of life, drama and even romance. Today’s article gives a list of popular anime series you should add to your anime watch list.
In recent years, streaming platforms (mostly Netflix and Crunchyroll) have dominated the release of anime series. So you might notice that some of the entries on this list are hot right now mostly because of their release platform.
#12 Yasuke
The last element in our anime watch list is Yasuke. A black Samurai, a premise that may seem a bit out of place is actually historically accurate in the case of Yasuke who served under the popular Nobunaga Oda. Other adaptations of this story have been put forward before, like in the case of Afro-Samurai.
This adaptation, however, released by Netflix, is one of the most popular anime series in recent years. It follows the story of Yasuke after the death of his master, Nobunaga.
He meets with a peculiar little girl who is being hunted by a group of mercenaries. He forms a bond with her and must protect her as he battles internal demons from his past
#11 Jujutsu Kaisen
One of the more recently released anime, Jujutsu Kaisen is just one season long and has one anime movie. We covered this anime in our article on the 7 strongest characters in the anime so far and real-life locations from the anime.
In this story, A good-hearted teen named Yuji Itadori joins his school’s occult club for entertainment purposes. But learns that its members are real sorcerers who can control the energy between beings for their own purposes.
He learns that a cursed talisman known as the demon Sukuna’s finger is being pursued by other cursed monsters.
It is so well-balanced that almost any anime fan is bound to appreciate it. It is one of the best anime right now. This should be on your anime watchlist.
Related: Top places to read Jujutsu Kaisen Manga online
#10 Kengan Ashura
A truly all-out martial arts anime with hardcore action scenes and superb exaggeration. Kengan Ashura is a story about a street brawler who wins a street fight and gets recruited to fight in an underground arena for a businessman. He must struggle with his mysterious past as he fights to win against worthy opponents in this underground arena.
#9 My Hero Academia
In a world where almost everyone is born with abilities called a quirk, young Izuku Midoriya is born without any. He has a deep admiration for heroes, who have dedicated their lives to using their quirks to protect the innocent. Most especially for the number one hero, All Might.
After a series of unlikely events, he meets with his Idol, All Might. He asks him to become his successor and take over the mantle as the bearer of the ‘one for all’. One for all is a mysterious transferable quirk which is the source of All Might’s powers.
Midoriya must master his powers and protect his secret as he goes through hero school and protects society from a rising hidden threat.
Related: 10 Surprising Moments in MHA
#8 Don’t Hurt Me, My Healer!
Young human warrior Alvin plans to begin his career by fulfilling a low-level request for the guild on a planet where monster invasions are common.
Alvin encounters a mystical bear on the way and finds himself in trouble right away. As luck would have it, a dark elf healer by the name of Karla comes along and inquires as to whether Alvin needs help while subtly asking about it.
Alvin manages to persuade Karla to assist him after a talk that is unnecessarily complicated by her excessively unusual nature. Unfortunately, she unintentionally lays a curse on Alvin instead of mending him, causing him to perish if he ventures too far from her.
#7 Black Lagoon
Rokurou Okajima, a salaryman, works hard every day to get up the corporate ladder at his company—that is until a business deal in Thailand turns sour. He is taken hostage by the Lagoon Company, a group of brutal pirate mercenaries, during the botched transaction. Rokurou does the unimaginable instead of pleading for his life. Then instead joins the team who abducted him once his bosses refuse to pay the ransom.
Now a part of the organization, Rokurou must get used to living in the desolate place known as Roanapur. Where crime and corruption are rampant and even the slightest mistake could result in his death. One you should definitely add to your anime watch list.
#6 Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Wit Studio is the creator of the Japanese anime television series Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. Amazon Prime Instant Video was used to broadcast the series. A true wasteland-style story, it is one you can’t leave out of your anime watch lists.
During the Industrial Revolution, a strange virus emerges that quickly spreads and turns infected people into Kabane The brilliant golden heart, which is shielded by a coating of iron, and an essential bodily portion must both be penetrated in order to slay the aggressive, undead kabane (such as the head).
Unfortunately, they are difficult to defeat with most melee weapons including the steam-pressure guns carried by the bushi. With an interesting protagonist and great horror scenes, this anime is bound to hold your attention.
#5 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the Joestar family’s many members learn they are destined to use their personal abilities to defeat supernatural adversaries. The narrative is divided into distinct sections, each of which focuses on a member of the Joestar family, whose name may usually be shortened to the title “JoJo”.
- Season 1: Part 1 – Phantom Blood.
- Season 1: Part 2 – Battle Tendency.
- Seasons 2 and 3: Part 3 – Stardust Crusaders.
- S4: Part 4 – Diamond is Unbreakable.
- Season 5: Part 5 – Golden Wind.
- Season 6: Part 6 – Stone Ocean.
- Part 7 – Steel Ball Run.
- Part 8 – JoJolion.
It is quite easily one of the most popular anime series of recent years.
Related: Real-life Locations of Jojo
#4 Spriggan
Adapted from the manga series of the same name, this anime is one of the most recently released anime and introduces a wealth of interesting new characters.
Agents of the ARCAM organization must prevent terrible powers held by artifacts from ancient alien civilizations from falling into the wrong hands. The topmost agent of this organization is Spriggan.
#3 Attack On Titan
Quite possibly the best anime series of recent years, Attack on Titan is one of the anime series that are must-watch. With action scenes filled with giant humanoid creatures, inspiring philosophical dialogues and thrilling mysteries, this series does exactly what it sets out to do.
In this story, when the first man-eating Titans came 100 years ago, people found refuge behind huge walls that prevented the giants from advancing further.
But when a massive Titan bursts through the defenses, bringing a flood of the giants into what had been the humans’ safe zone, their long-held safety is put in jeopardy. Soldier Eren Jaeger vows to kill every Titan after witnessing one of the Titans consume his mother during the subsequent devastation.
The group of companions he recruits to assist him is humanity’s last chance to prevent extinction at the hands of the monsters. It just finished airing and did well on an international scale.
Related: Guide to Type of Titans in Attack on Tita
#2 Demon Slayer
A kind-hearted and knowledgeable young man named Tanjiro Kamado lives in the highlands with his family. After his father passed away, he took over the role of family provider by traveling to the surrounding hamlet to sell charcoal.
Everything changed when he returned home one day to find that a monster had attacked and killed his family. The only survivors of the catastrophe were Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, who, although changed into a demon, surprised everyone by still displaying human feeling and thought.
Tanjiro went to his retired master Sakonji Urokodaki for training to become a demon slayer after meeting Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. This is the start of his journey to aid his sister in turning into a human again. And equally, avenge the death of his family.
It comes once again on our list because it is so different from other anime and will be a plus to anyone who watches.
Related: Demon Slayers Real Life Places in Japan
#1 Spy x Family
At the top of our anime watch list is the trending series Spy X Family. A Westalian agent with the codename “Twilight” charged to spy on Donovan Desmond, the head of the National Unity Party in Ostania.
This was in order to preserve the state of peace between the opposing nations of Westalis and Ostania. The only way Twilight can get near Desmond, who is notoriously reclusive, is by enrolling a child in the same private school as Desmond’s sons. Then he passes himself off as another parent.
He adopts Anya, a young orphan girl. Marries Yor Briar, and takes on the alias Loid Forger in order to achieve this and project the appearance of a content family.
Unbeknownst to him, Yor is a skilled assassin, and Anya has the ability to read minds. This is indeed, one you must add to your anime watch list.
Related: Top 15 Anime Recommendations to watch this year
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