| I notice a lot of anime I would consider to be great and a landmark in whatever genre tends to be within in this score range. Not one of the most top-rated shows on the site, but still a must-watch. My go to example would Neon Genesis Evangelion. |
Rally-Apr 6, 3:54 PM
| That's an oddly specific interval. These are my favorites. Castle in the Sky The Rose of Versailles Cardcaptor Sakura Haibane Renmei Haruhi Suzumiya Usagi Drop Yuri On Ice Astra Lost in Space Gosick Magi SKET Dance Gundam Origin 2 of those are based on manga by Kenta Shinohara. He has a 3rd anime that began airing today! https://myanimelist.net/anime/59597/Witch_Watch Rally- said: My go to example would Neon Genesis Evangelion. I greatly prefer the Rebuild movies, 2 which fall into your given interval. 1 Kizumonogatari movie and 1 Heaven's Feel movie also qualify. |
LucifrostApr 6, 7:39 PM
| その目だれの目？ |
| For reference, the start of the 8.4 range is here: https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php?limit=150 (#199) And the end of 7.8 is here: https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php?limit=1050 (#1066) Tried to narrow down some that weren't already mentioned and had some lasting popularity / impact on the anime viewerbase and its culture. Madoka Magica Nausicaa Baccano! Hellsing Ultimate Bakemonogatari Spice and Wolf (either version) Redline AnoHana Ghost in the Shell (1st movie) Revolutionary Girl Utena Trigun Black Lagoon Akira Aria the Animation (technically 7.68, but its sequels are within the 7.8 ~ 8.4 range or higher) Ouran Highschool Host Club When they Cry - Higurashi Princess Tutu Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Serial Experiments Lain Eureka 7 No Game no Life Suzume (or Weathering with You, to represent Makoto Shinkai on this list) Toradora Angel Beats FLCL Kill la Kill Summer Wars Clannad Wolf's Rain (OVA is in the range, TV is just outside at 7.79) Time of Eve Macross - Do You Remember Love / Superdimensional Fortress Macross. Heartcatch Precure K-On! Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei |
| Went with a mix of "I personally liked it" and cultural impact. Here's my list(out of series I've actually seen): Akage no Anne Bakemonogatari Hokuto no Ken Azumanga Daioh Mushoku Tensei Osomatsu-san OG Dragon Ball Kill la Kill Higurashi Makeine FLCL |
| Essential for what? Indoctrination certain tastes? No such thing as "essential anime". Only if you aim at becoming anime journalist, anime blogger or some sort of anime connoisseur, you need to go after anime which is/was "essential for the processes in the anime industry from strictly historical perspective" and a lot of the time watching those may not be very enjoyable for you (until you start recognizing patterns from it in more recent titles and something clicks in you head as if you have started to figure out a puzzle...that kind of fun). If your main goal is simply enjoying anime, just go without a map and try everything (and I mean try, not watch everything)... |
| My 4 favs are in that range lmao Kill la Kill Utena NGE FLCL Meanwhile top 50 is 50% Gintama, + botted FMAB and Steins;Gate. Then people wonder why nobody takes this site's rankings seriously 💀💀💀 "How do you know it's botted" Just open up the stats page, check your friends rating. No, 50% real users aren't rating these shows 10/10. |
DeathkoApr 7, 6:32 AM
Prophetess of the Golden Era  |
| Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Chihayafuru Shirobako Dennou Coil Kill la Kill Katanagatari Hellsing Ultimate One Outs Usagi Drop |
| To keep the list as short as possible, I'll only list stuff I gave 9. Honorable mentions in the spoiler below. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken 2nd Season (Needs S1 as well, but S2 is just better) Boku dake ga Inai Machi Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (Seasons 1&2) Plastic Memories Overlord III (The best season, again S1&2 are necessary while S4 is bonus) Tokyo Ghoul (7,79 so it depends how you want to round it up) Charlotte (7,75 also about rounding it up) |
 |
| Serial Experiments Lain Vivy Fluorite Eyes Song Girls Last Tour Puella Magi Madoka Magica Angels Egg Dororo Land of Lustrous Azumanga Daioh Ghost in the Shell When Marnie Was There |
| You do know that's like 500+ shows, right...? |
| If you reply back to me and I never respond, I lost interest and don't care. Sorry about that. |
I'll give you a few:
|
| "Those words are meant for those that dare defy god's final warning... An epigraph of their stubbornness" - Maho Hiyajo (Steins;Gate 0)    |
Reply to alshu
Essential for what?
Indoctrination certain tastes?
No such thing as "essential anime".
Only if you aim at becoming anime journalist, anime blogger or some sort of anime connoisseur, you need to go after anime which is/was "essential for the processes in the anime industry from strictly historical perspective" and a lot of the time watching those may not be very enjoyable for you (until you start recognizing patterns from it in more recent titles and something clicks in you head as if you have started to figure out a puzzle...that kind of fun).
If your main goal is simply enjoying anime, just go without a map and try everything (and I mean try, not watch everything)...
Indoctrination certain tastes?
No such thing as "essential anime".
Only if you aim at becoming anime journalist, anime blogger or some sort of anime connoisseur, you need to go after anime which is/was "essential for the processes in the anime industry from strictly historical perspective" and a lot of the time watching those may not be very enjoyable for you (until you start recognizing patterns from it in more recent titles and something clicks in you head as if you have started to figure out a puzzle...that kind of fun).
If your main goal is simply enjoying anime, just go without a map and try everything (and I mean try, not watch everything)...
| @alshu Very well said. The essential anime is the one that most personally touched you. Fuck what anyone else thinks. |
| well that's quite a broad range but ill say the first one that came to me; clannad because watching clannad gives you access to watching clannad as which is one of the greatest animes ever. |
 The end of an era. Thank you Wit, Mappa and Isayama. Feeling half happy, half sad. Kawaii waifus and precious best girls <3333 |
Reply to Zalis
For reference, the start of the 8.4 range is here: https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php?limit=150 (#199)
And the end of 7.8 is here: https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php?limit=1050 (#1066)
Tried to narrow down some that weren't already mentioned and had some lasting popularity / impact on the anime viewerbase and its culture.
Madoka Magica
Nausicaa
Baccano!
Hellsing Ultimate
Bakemonogatari
Spice and Wolf (either version)
Redline
AnoHana
Ghost in the Shell (1st movie)
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Trigun
Black Lagoon
Akira
Aria the Animation (technically 7.68, but its sequels are within the 7.8 ~ 8.4 range or higher)
Ouran Highschool Host Club
When they Cry - Higurashi
Princess Tutu
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Serial Experiments Lain
Eureka 7
No Game no Life
Suzume (or Weathering with You, to represent Makoto Shinkai on this list)
Toradora
Angel Beats
FLCL
Kill la Kill
Summer Wars
Clannad
Wolf's Rain (OVA is in the range, TV is just outside at 7.79)
Time of Eve
Macross - Do You Remember Love / Superdimensional Fortress Macross.
Heartcatch Precure
K-On!
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
And the end of 7.8 is here: https://myanimelist.net/topanime.php?limit=1050 (#1066)
Tried to narrow down some that weren't already mentioned and had some lasting popularity / impact on the anime viewerbase and its culture.
Madoka Magica
Nausicaa
Baccano!
Hellsing Ultimate
Bakemonogatari
Spice and Wolf (either version)
Redline
AnoHana
Ghost in the Shell (1st movie)
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Trigun
Black Lagoon
Akira
Aria the Animation (technically 7.68, but its sequels are within the 7.8 ~ 8.4 range or higher)
Ouran Highschool Host Club
When they Cry - Higurashi
Princess Tutu
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Serial Experiments Lain
Eureka 7
No Game no Life
Suzume (or Weathering with You, to represent Makoto Shinkai on this list)
Toradora
Angel Beats
FLCL
Kill la Kill
Summer Wars
Clannad
Wolf's Rain (OVA is in the range, TV is just outside at 7.79)
Time of Eve
Macross - Do You Remember Love / Superdimensional Fortress Macross.
Heartcatch Precure
K-On!
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
| @Zalis I am genuinely impressed. Great selection too. |
| For those wondering why I picked that range, it's just based on observation after considering watching multiple anime. I never knew how much anime are cataloged within that range. I spent a lot of time checking out culturally significant anime I should probably watch and noticed a lot of lowly scores for great anime. |
| Well I don't know about essential, but in terms of stuff in this range that I think nearly everyone should see, here are some: Top wo nerae: Gunbuster: Basically this is Absolute cinema, its short, snappy, beautiful full of heart etc. I think it even was one of the reasons Gainax was formed ? (Don't quote me on that lol XD I just have a vague memory of that being the case. But at least I do think some studio was formed because of it). Soul eater: I think if you are gonna watch shounen, Soul eater needs to be on the list. Super stylish and cool, and kind of overlooked. Kaiji: Hands down one of the, if not the best gambling anime. Kill la Kill: Imo, the best action-ecchi by a country mile. Monogatari: I was actually shocked to see monogatari fits in the category (well some seasons exceed 8.4 but some are under). This series has some of the best dialogue in anime. It's unique, stylish, exciting, cool, the works. Also probably the only ecchi anime with an author that likes intelligent stories and so he mixes the two. |
| This is a rough list of first seasons of anime in that range that I gave an 8 or above: Kaguya-sama: Love is War Medalist Madoka Magica Evangelion Initial D Bakemonogatari Blue Lock Serial Experiments Lain Hell's Paradise FLCL Kill la Kill Ranma 1/2 (2024) Kanon (2006) Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Golden Kamuy JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) Haruhi Suzumiya They're in the 7.7 range but I'd be sad if I didn't get to mention Undead Unluck and Devilman Crybaby too --- IMO, the "essentials" are: Madoka Magica Evangelion FLCL JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) Those are, like, the ones I would like to think most if not all anime fans would eventually see --- From there, I'd recommend: Kaguya-sama: Love is War - if you're into romcoms, it's hard to go wrong with this one. It has good rom and it has good com. Medalist - Hidden gem, please check it out. A very solid drama but with cute goobers and some nice ice skating on top of it. Bakemonogatari - This is one of those you could argue are "essential" but if you're willing to dive a couple layers deeper. Fantastic show, albeit with some... quirks. At the very least, I'd suggest checking out Bake and Kizu. Blue Lock - if you like sports shows or wanna try one out. I personally have no real interest in soccer but Blue Lock makes it really fun to watch. Kill la Kill - See Bakemonogatari Kanon (2006) - If you liked Clannad, this is by the same team Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction - See Medalist. Same guy who did Goodnight Punpun, gripping thriller, engaging cast, it's getting robbed in like every 2024 anime awards program, very good. Haruhi Suzumiya - If this were 15-20 years ago, it WOULD be in that essentials category. I feel like time is starting to pass it by but it's a fantastic show in its own right (...maybe not S2 but S1 and Disappearance are). --- Obviously, every show I listed is good (imo) and I'd recommend them all, but these are a select handful. There are probably a few more ("a few") but I either haven't seen them, my eyes might have glazed over them, or I didn't like them enough to put on the list. |
Supersonic_PainApr 8, 12:06 AM
 |
Reply to 3033
Weathering With You, Bunny Girl Senpai
| @3033 3033 said: Weathering With You, Bunny Girl Senpai 7.8/10 rage bait, almost fell for it (joke) I imagined both anime would sit past 8.5+ |
I don't think I ever really rated anime using decimals. MAL basically shaped my thinking with their rating system where 7 = good, 8 = very good; therefore, I don't have many anime in mind that fall between 7.8-8.4. But if I have to suggest must-watch series within that rating range, I'd say:
I feel like a lot of these anime have had more impact on anime culture/fandoms than on being "really good," so I guess to some extent they're "must-watch." |
Reply to Chaeju
I don't think I ever really rated anime using decimals. MAL basically shaped my thinking with their rating system where 7 = good, 8 = very good; therefore, I don't have many anime in mind that fall between 7.8-8.4. But if I have to suggest must-watch series within that rating range, I'd say:
I feel like a lot of these anime have had more impact on anime culture/fandoms than on being "really good," so I guess to some extent they're "must-watch."
- Majority of Kyoto Animation anime (Chunibyo, Free!, K-On!, etc.)
- Love Live! series (Specifically the first season and Sunshine)
- Majority of the Monogatari series (Excluding the movies)
- Blue Lock series
- Majority of Fate series (Excluding movies)
I feel like a lot of these anime have had more impact on anime culture/fandoms than on being "really good," so I guess to some extent they're "must-watch."
| @Chaeju You can't even rate any anime based on decimals lol. Still, I'm interested in the global's opinion. |
| BTW, what you're referring to are anime which are in the top 199-1065 range of the MAL score, so 866 titles. |
Reply to thewiru
Going through my list, in increasing order of score:
I might turn this one into a "don't talk to me about anime unless you've watched at list 1/3 of this" list.
- Mahoujin Guruguru (2017)
- Little Witch Academia (TV)
- Sonny Boy
- Id:Invaded
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
- Top wo Nerae Gunbuster
- Oniisama e (Note: On my PTW, still haven't watched it)
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV)
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
- Golden Kamuy
- Drifters
- Ushio to Tora TV 2nd Season
- Macross + Macross: Do You Remember Love?
- Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon
- Kidou Senshi Gundam Thunderbolt
- Vampire Hunter D (2000)
- Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's
- Youjo Senki
- Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen
- Haibane Renmei
- Kidou Senshi Gundam: Dai 08 MS Shoutai
- Kill la Kill
- Toradora (Note: Also on my PTW)
- Koukyoushihen Eureka Seven
- Kanata no Astra
- Kidou Senshi Gundam Unicorn
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
- Kidou Senshi Gundam 00
- Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!
- Kaiba
- Princess Tutu
- Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
- Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
- Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor + Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen
- Shinsekai yori
- Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World (Note: Also on my PTW)
- Psycho-Pass
- Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
- Shinseiki Evangelion
- Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
- Houseki no Kuni
I might turn this one into a "don't talk to me about anime unless you've watched at list 1/3 of this" list.
| @thewiru Good selection! Didn't know you had that many favorite anime. |
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