Interest Stacks

The 50 Anime You Should Watch Before You Die

Anime
bySignsOfSuicide
Jun 15 2022, 2:13 AM | Updated Feb 23, 6:35 AM
Avoided a bit of the really obvious ones (The Big 3 and Death Note) and some that were really similar to something already present on this list. Also, enjoy your life a bit more by watching these gems.
Akira
Movie, 1988, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
This is the film that changed everything. Should be all I have to say.
Aku no Hana
TV, 2013, 13 eps Me:- Author:8
The moment you expand your horizons to accept the rotoscope animation you will be met with a deeply personal and engaging story.
Bai Yao Pu
ONA, 2020, 12 eps Me:- Author:8
One of the greats from the budding Chinese animation scene if you want to watch something other than Japanimation. One of the few series with supernatural entities that get fleshed out and are not tacky attempts at worldbuilding.
Casshern Sins
TV, 2008, 24 eps Me:- Author:10
The tale of an immortal being blamed for the gradual yet ensured destruction of the entire world around him. You may be wondering how you make a story around an immortal have stakes. Well, you make them suffer... a lot...
Cowboy Bebop
TV, 1998, 26 eps Me:- Author:10
Watanabe's Opus. As normie as you can get but also as essential as you can get. Never failed to excel in every category it ever took a stab at.
Dororo
TV, 2019, 24 eps Me:- Author:9
Both an excellent character drama, and an action filled swordy-boy demon slaying fest. Also, it serves as a great introduction to Tezuka's vast body of work.
Fullmetal Alchemist
TV, 2003, 51 eps Me:- Author:7
What is canon here blows what was glossed over in Brotherhood out of the water.
Gankutsuou
TV, 2004, 24 eps Me:- Author:9
A half decent adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo would be reason enough to watch. This is far above that, all while putting its own spin on it.
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
OVA, 1988, 110 eps Me:- Author:9
If you got the time to spare, then do it. Getting to see this grand epic unfold really is worth it. If you ever plan to take the pre-nineties plunge, then start here.
Ginga Tetsudou 999
TV, 1978, 113 eps Me:- Author:8
Kino's Journey through outer space. Every episode you wind up somewhere new. Interestingly, this is one of the longest shows with this semi-episodic story structure, so you really get to live alongside these characters.
Gintama
TV, 2006, 201 eps Me:- Author:6
Has everything you might end up loving from the comedy, characters, and the serious story arcs. I will not let my feelings downplay its staying power because what I did like is worth defending.
Great Pretender
TV, 2020, 23 eps Me:- Author:9
One of the few times a series has always left me guessing what was on the horizon. Never quite knew just where the story and scams were going to go.
Guin Saga
TV, 2009, 26 eps Me:- Author:7
High fantasy staple devoid of the isekai trappings if you want something different.
Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
TV, 2007, 26 eps Me:- Author:9
Kaiji is the best of its ilk because there are actually stakes to the gambling. Also, there are surprisingly realistic implications of gambling's effect on human nature on display here.
Hajime no Ippo
TV, 2000, 75 eps Me:- Author:9
If your favorite part of an anime fight are the hand-to-hand scenes, then, seriously watch this. Ippo's career is one of the greatest rides in anime.
Hidamari no Ki
TV, 2000, 25 eps Me:- Author:9
Amazingly poignant period piece given the recent Covid epidemic. Heavily slept on Tezuka adaptation.
Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku
TV, 1999, 13 eps Me:- Author:8
Child soldiers and human traffickers fighting over the dwindling water supply. You have now been convinced.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV)
TV, 2012, 26 eps Me:- Author:8
Often imitated, but nothing has replicated what makes this series endure so long in the community. Incredible battles, humor, and characters. Has anything you could want if you give it a chance.
Juuni Kokuki
TV, 2002, 45 eps Me:- Author:8
This Isekai setting actually doesn't get wasted like so many others and serves as the backdrop for top notch worldbuilding.
Kachou Ouji
TV, 1999, 13 eps Me:- Author:9
An awesome music comedy anime with a highly relatable main character you feel for as his emotional states and arcs get fleshed out. The OP alone will convince you.
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
Movie, 2013, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
My favorite of studio Ghibli's films. If you're interested in seeing one for the first time or your next one to watch, then look no further. Just inoffensive and wholesome.
Kemonozume
TV, 2006, 13 eps Me:- Author:8
For my money, the best Horror Romance anime we have. Also, a Yuasa series not shoved down your throat.
Kenpuu Denki Berserk
TV, 1997, 25 eps Me:- Author:8
Get into Berserk any way you can. If it must be through amime, then this is by far your best option. Daily f Berserk 2016 PSA reminder.
Koukaku Kidoutai
Movie, 1995, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
A case study of the age-old question "How much of your humanity can you give up, and still be considered human?". Obviously, a theme that aged like wine given every advance in technology makes this film ever the more poignant.
Koukyuu no Karasu
TV, 2022, 13 eps Me:- Author:8
A josei ghostbusting story with extremely personal tales regarding the lingering effects that death may have on the living.
Kuzu no Honkai
TV, 2017, 12 eps Me:- Author:8
Most realistic romance series I have seen. People tend to act like this more than the lie we have all been sold.
Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro
Movie, 1979, 1 ep Me:- Author:8
You should watch Lupin III. You should start here. Incredibly fun series with plenty more if you get hooked. That is my Ted Talk.
Mo Dao Zu Shi
ONA, 2018, 15 eps Me:- Author:8
The best historical piece from the Chinese side of the pond with a flair for the mythos thrown in. I'd recommend this series as a jumping off point into this sector of the animation medium.
Mob Psycho 100
TV, 2016, 12 eps Me:- Author:9
Mob Psycho 100 is an anime that has so much under its very pretty exterior and beautifully animated fights. Anything you are looking for in anime from characters, dramatic stakes, and even humor is here in spades.
Mononoke
TV, 2007, 12 eps Me:- Author:10
The best of traditional Horror anime. Great Horror isn't scary, it is horrifying. Devoid of the lame as Hell song and dance associated with the genre. This really is the exception if there ever was one.
Monster
TV, 2004, 74 eps Me:- Author:10
This is the King of long-form storytelling in the medium. A masterclass of moral dilemmas and character development. Also sporting the greatest clash between protagonist and antagonist possibly ever.
Nana
TV, 2006, 47 eps Me:- Author:8
If on the fence with Shoujo, start here. The dramatic elements are handled really well, and you get a sense of the journey of their struggles due to the length. Also, the ost is awesome.
Perfect Blue
Movie, 1998, 1 ep Me:- Author:10
Themes ever more relevant today as the line between the interaction of you and other people's perceptions of "you" become ever more distant and blurred.
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin
TV, 2010, 26 eps Me:- Author:9
This is a hard watch due to the graphic and explicit material but if that doesn't bother you then by all means watch the extremely messed up prison lives of these young men. It is an ugly side of the system that is all too real and is on full display here.
Redline
Movie, 2009, 1 ep Me:- Author:8
Gorgeous labor of love. Watch it for the visuals if for nothing else.
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen
OVA, 1999, 4 eps Me:- Author:9
If you can separate the art from the artist, then you can ironically experience the greatest redemption arc in anime.
Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan
TV, 2016, 120 eps Me:- Author:7
In my opinion, as someone who tends to dislike most comedy anime, this is my clear exception.
Saraiya Goyou
TV, 2010, 12 eps Me:- Author:9
A character ensemble about a ragtag group of almost virtuous ronin robbers/smugglers/kidnappers. Very good depiction of people being driven to poor actions through bleak circumstances.
Seirei no Moribito
TV, 2007, 26 eps Me:- Author:9
A tale of atonement centered around in my opinion, the greatest fleshed out female lead in the medium. Yes, even better than your waifu.
Serial Experiments Lain
TV, 1998, 13 eps Me:- Author:10
Honestly, everyone should see this just to see their own response to it. I have always described it feeling like a fusion of OK Computer the album with Alice in Wonderland. If that makes sense?
Shigurui
TV, 2007, 12 eps Me:- Author:9
This is the goriest feeling anime that did not feel cheesy or lame while doing it. MADHOUSE PLEASE! Finish this...
Shingeki no Kyojin
TV, 2013, 25 eps Me:- Author:9
This is the new best anime to start with. While watching it, I was waiting for it to "get bad" and it never did. It lived up to the monumental reputation of excellence and overcame the supposed downfall of quality. Watch it, you will love it.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
TV, 2016, 13 eps Me:- Author:8
They surprisingly made all the rakugo very entertaining. The voice actors sell their performances like their lives depend on it.
Steins;Gate
TV, 2011, 24 eps Me:- Author:10
A story let alone a thriller completely written around time travel and they did not mess it up. Like how?
Takarajima
TV, 1978, 26 eps Me:- Author:9
If you do not care too much about anime looking "old" then you can enjoy the best adaptation of The Treasure Island. Yes, that includes Treasure Planet though that is awesome too.
The Big O
TV, 1999, 26 eps Me:- Author:9
This is "Melting Pot" the anime. They literally tossed everything but the kitchen sink into this completely unique experience from any other anime.
Trigun Stampede
TV, 2023, 12 eps Me:- Author:8
More of a focused space western than Bebop and similar enough to where if you like one, then you will probably like the other. Also, Vash... just Vash... Also, I find the narrative of this series more compelling than the 1998 adaptation.
Vampire Hunter D (2000)
Movie, 2000, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
Rule of cool is strong with this one. Great introduction to cel animation. Also, it has Vampires when they are not lame as Hell.
Vinland Saga
TV, 2019, 24 eps Me:- Author:9
Badass Viking revenge thriller turns into one of the most introspective character dramas in the medium. All the while, the worldbuilding and scope just far expand, to become a grander epic of something so much bigger than Thorfinn's tale.
Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho
TV, 1992, 112 eps Me:- Author:8
You have probably seen HxH already, so you should definitely see this too. I actually preferred this series till the rushed Three Kings Saga.

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